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

In addition to falls and accidents, area hospitals have been seeing cold-weather recreational injuries. —Mary Wasson, Austin American Statesman, 26 Jan. 2026

Communities downstream may be told not to drink or touch the water, and face high treatment costs and lost recreational opportunities. —Dinesh Phuyal, The Conversation, 26 Jan. 2026

Pennsylvania The Keystone State legalized medical marijuana in 2016 and Democratic Governor Josh Shapiro, the state’s former attorney general, is in favor of legalizing recreational cannabis. —Will Yakowicz, Forbes.com, 24 Jan. 2026

The Golden State has some of the best weather in the nation, its famous beaches and other natural wonders, year-round recreational opportunities and virtually unlimited entertainment options, all of which naturally lead to higher demand (and higher prices). —Adam B. Summers, Oc Register, 24 Jan. 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