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 goal was to test whether a recreational sport like soccer could be used not just in a lab or university setting, but in community leagues and grassroots programs where people already gather. — Nicole Williams, AJC.com, 14 July 2026

His efforts to reduce crime included not just fighting graft in the police department but also offering more recreational activities. — Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 14 July 2026

Authorities said the personal watercraft collided with a recreational boat. — Reeti Malhotra, Sacbee.com, 14 July 2026

While it’s been neglected, trashed and often forgotten over time, myriad governmental and nonprofit groups have been working for years to restore habitat, add park space and establish recreational elements (sometimes in conflict over the vision). — Jireh Deng, Los Angeles Times, 13 July 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