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

The decision by the Pacific Fishery Management Council to allow limited commercial and recreational salmon fishing off the coast is a win for the state's salmon fishing industry, which has grappled with years of season closures due to dwindling fish stocks. —CBS News, 12 Apr. 2026

After a two-year closure, the ocean recreational fishing season was allowed to reopen last year for several days under strict limits. —Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2026

Oceanside’s Cesar Chavez Park is on a short list of parks and recreational facilities the city is considering for new names. —Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Apr. 2026

The project reflects ongoing collaboration between Midpen, the City of East Palo Alto and the SFPUC to enhance regional trail connections and ensure long-term care of natural resources and recreational opportunities in the area. —Anne Gelhaus, Mercury News, 12 Apr. 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

• aspirational
• avocational
• calculational
• combinational
• computational
• conformational
• confrontational
• congregational
• conversational
• correlational
• deformational
• derivational