hobby

1 of 3

noun (1)

hob·​by ˈhä-bē 

plural hobbies

: a small Old World falcon (Falco subbuteo) that is dark blue above and white below with dark streaking on the breast

hobby

2 of 3

noun (2)

plural hobbies

: a pursuit outside one's regular occupation engaged in especially for relaxation

Writing is just a hobby of his.

Her hobbies include gardening and bird-watching.

hobbyist

ˈhä-bē-ist 

noun

hobbyist

3 of 3

noun (3)

hob·​by·​ist ˈhäbēə̇st 

-biə̇-

plural -s

1

archaic : one that is preoccupied with a pet idea or cranky obsession

2

: one that has one or more hobbies

especially : one that is particularly fond of cultivating hobbies

Synonyms of hobby

Noun (2)

• pursuit
• sport
• avocation
• recreation
• amusement

Examples of hobby in a Sentence

Noun (2)

his ranch is just a weekend hobby—he makes his real money as an investment banker

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Greg’s colleagues from over the years describe him as fiercely competitive, not just with work projects but also with hobbies like running and weight lifting. — Julia Black, Vanity Fair, 2 Nov. 2026

Rich began DJing as a hobby that turned into a part-time job 17 years ago. — Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 30 Oct. 2026

This can include talking to a friend or family member, doing a hobby, or practicing deep breathing. — Health Editorial Team, HEALTH, 29 Oct. 2026

The data showed that on Faire’s platform, orders for crafts and hobbies rose 58 percent, games 55 percent and puzzles 40 percent. — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 28 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1) and Noun (3)

Middle English hoby, from Anglo-French hobel, hobé

Noun (2)

short for hobbyhorse

First Known Use

Noun (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1816, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for hobby

• bobbie
• bobby
• knobby
• lobby
• nabi
• nobby
• panjabi
• punjabi
• wahhabi

Kids Definition

hobby

noun

hob·​by

ˈhäb-ē

plural hobbies

: an interest or activity to which a person devotes time for pleasure

hobbyist

-ē-əst

noun