recreation

noun

rec·​re·​a·​tion ˌre-krē-ˈā-shən 

: refreshment of strength and spirits after work

also : a means of refreshment or diversion : hobby

Synonyms

• dalliance
• frolic
• frolicking
• fun
• fun and games
• play
• relaxation
• rollicking
• sport

Examples of recreation in a Sentence

The fields next to the school are used for recreation.

decided to take a bike tour of the island for recreation and relaxation

Recent Examples on the Web

At the gala, the actress wore a recreation of a 1947 New Look design by Dior, per Harper’s Bazaar. —Emily Blackwood, People.com, 9 May 2025

The areas that would be affected included roads along the river, parks and recreation areas. —Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 7 May 2025

The art fair got its start in nearby Central Green Park, in an area with little commerce, said Susanne Neely, recreation supervisor for the city of Lenexa. —Debra Skodack, Kansas City Star, 7 May 2025

Spend summer at lake Army Corps of Engineers seeks volunteer park attendants and campsite cleaners for the summer recreation season at Beaver Lake. —Flip Putthoff, Arkansas Online, 6 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English recreacioun "act of refreshment, action of amusing," borrowed from Anglo-French & Late Latin; Anglo-French, borrowed from Late Latin recreātiōn-, recreātiō "spiritual refreshment, amusement, new birth," going back to Latin, "act of restoring," from recreāre "to make new, restore, revive" (from re- re- + creāre "to bring into being, beget, give birth to") + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action — more at create entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing recreation

• recreation ground
• recreation room

Rhymes for recreation

• abdication
• aberration
• abjuration
• abnegation
• abrogation
• acceptation
• acclamation
• acclimation
• accusation
• activation
• actuation
• acylation

Kids Definition

recreation

noun

rec·​re·​ation

ˌrek-rē-ˈā-shən

1

: refreshment of mind or body after work or worry : diversion

2

: a way of refreshing mind or body

hiking is our favorite recreation

recreational

-shnəl

-shən-ᵊl

adjective