recreational

adjective

rec·​re·​a·​tion·​al ˌre-krē-ˈā-sh(ə-)nəl How to pronounce recreational (audio)
Synonyms of recreationalnext
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Under the proposal, the stadium's large parking area would be transformed into a flexible park with public recreational facilities and space for special events. — Sergio Candido, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026 Structural inequalities and socioeconomic factors continue to determine who can enjoy the benefits of recreational swimming and who cannot. — Michael McColly, Chicago Tribune, 18 Aug. 2026 The private company would develop the stadium’s large parking area into a flex park that includes public recreational facilities and a special events space. — David Fischer, Fortune, 17 Aug. 2026 Home of one of professional golf’s most prestigious tournaments, The Players at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra, the area is a favorite of recreational golfers as well as the pros. — Patricia Doherty, Travel + Leisure, 15 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for recreational

Word History

Etymology

recreation + -al entry 1

First Known Use

1656, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of recreational was in 1656

Phrases Containing recreational

Rhymes for recreational

See All Rhymes for recreational

Browse Nearby Words

recreation
recreational
recreational drug
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Cite this Entry

“Recreational.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/recreational. Accessed 22 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on recreational

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for recreational

Nglish: Translation of recreational for Spanish Speakers

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