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

Shotwell said Tuesday that SpaceX would only use a small portion of the acreage while otherwise seeking to preserve the wetlands for wildlife and the natural beauty of the area for recreational purposes like fishing, hunting, and boating. — Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 25 Aug. 2026

Beyond recreational opportunities, the ranking could help further elevate Pittsburgh's reputation as a destination for outdoor enthusiasts and active lifestyles. — Gabby Sartori, USA Today, 24 Aug. 2026

Intended to preserve the human-scale coastal character, conservation values, passive recreation function, neighborhood compatibility and ecological and recreational function of North Hollywood Beach Park and surrounding coastal areas. — Susannah Bryan, Sun Sentinel, 23 Aug. 2026

As a result, almost every local government would face hellish decisions — weighing cuts to emergency services like police and fire against libraries, recreational programs and senior centers. — Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 23 Aug. 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