recreation

noun

rec·​re·​a·​tion ˌre-krē-ˈā-shən 

: refreshment of strength and spirits after work

also : a means of refreshment or diversion : hobby

Synonyms of recreation

• relaxation
• fun
• entertainment
• amusement
• enjoyment

Examples of recreation in a Sentence

The fields next to the school are used for recreation.

decided to take a bike tour of the island for recreation and relaxation

Recent Examples on the Web

The money goes to state highways, county roads, public transit and local recreation projects. — Paula Wethington, CBS News, 18 Sep. 2026

But all the growth involved entertainment and recreation, as the subset involving hotel and food service workers lost 11,000 jobs in August and 2,900 over the year. — Jim Turner, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 Sep. 2026

The small cages were described as being in the recreation yard, or directly outside. — Miami Herald, 17 Sep. 2026

The whole forest is home to 155,000 acres of federal land, and a special mention needs to be made for the recreation area at Chewalla Lake, which is great for hiking, fishing, canoeing, and more. — Austin Perry Outkick, FOXNews.com, 17 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English recreacioun "act of refreshment, action of amusing," borrowed from Anglo-French & Late Latin; Anglo-French, borrowed from Late Latin recreātiōn-, recreātiō "spiritual refreshment, amusement, new birth," going back to Latin, "act of restoring," from recreāre "to make new, restore, revive" (from re- re- + creāre "to bring into being, beget, give birth to") + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action — more at create entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing recreation

• recreation ground
• recreation room

Rhymes for recreation

• ablation
• aeration
• bination
• carnation
• cassation
• castration
• causation
• centration
• cessation
• cetacean
• chelation
• citation

Kids Definition

recreation

noun

rec·​re·​ation

ˌrek-rē-ˈā-shən

1

: refreshment of mind or body after work or worry : diversion

2

: a way of refreshing mind or body

hiking is our favorite recreation

recreational

-shnəl, 

-shən-ᵊl

adjective