recreational

adjective

rec·​re·​a·​tion·​al ˌre-krē-ˈā-sh(ə-)nəl 

1

: of, relating to, or characteristic of recreation

a recreational area

recreational activities

2

: of or relating to recreational drugs or their use

a recreational drug user

Colorado's burgeoning marijuana industry had struggled under its own astonishing success since legal recreational sales began Jan. 1.

—David Migoya

recreationally adverb

Examples of recreational in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Van Buren County used $1,000 in opioid cash to help build a recreational site with pickleball, bocce, and tennis courts. — Aneri Pattani, CBS News, 12 Nov. 2026

To make a long story short, the ship was eventually sold to Okaloosa County, Florida, which is converting it into an artificial reef to attract both sea life and recreational divers. — New Atlas, 12 Nov. 2026

But after various deals fell through—including one to turn her into a recreational destination at Pier 76 in Manhattan—their choices began to narrow. — Rachel Nuwer, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Nov. 2026

Charles and Eli Copley had previously opened part of their 50-acre property for some recreational activity, listing the property online for dog walkers and hikers interested in using their trails for a small hourly fee. — P.r. Lockhart, Hartford Courant, 12 Nov. 2026

Word History

Etymology

recreation + -al entry 1

First Known Use

1656, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing recreational

• recreational drug
• recreational vehicle

Rhymes for recreational

• formational
• foundational
• gestational
• gradational
• locational
• mutational
• notational
• relational
• rotational
• sensational
• translational
• vibrational