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

Arizona law already bans trans girls from playing on school sports teams designated for girls, and this measure would extend that prohibition to recreational organizations like Little League. — Rachel Treisman, NPR, 4 Nov. 2026

Marijuana Shapiro has repeatedly included revenue projections from adult-use recreational marijuana legalization in his budget proposals, and the House passed a legalization bill in 2025. — Daniel J. Mallinson, The Conversation, 4 Nov. 2026

Richardson said Texas Original is focused on medical marijuana use not recreational. — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Nov. 2026

Several of those whales were endangered humpbacks trapped by crab gear, both commercial and recreational. — Anne Ewbank, Sacbee.com, 2 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