recreational

adjective

rec·​re·​a·​tion·​al ˌre-krē-ˈā-shnəl 

-shə-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

National Marine Fisheries Service Founded as the U.S. Commission of Fish and Fisheries in 1871, NOAA Fisheries manages commercial and recreational fishing in saltwater and marine species, including whales and sea turtles within 200 miles of the U.S. coast. —Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA TODAY, 1 Mar. 2025

In 2023 and 2024, their numbers were so low that authorities banned commercial and recreational fishing off the California coast. —Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Feb. 2025

Access to green spaces and outdoor recreational activities. —Ashley Fredde, Idaho Statesman, 28 Feb. 2025

That would mean, if sold, they could only be used for things such as schools and colleges, churches, recreational centers and community and group homes. —Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Feb. 2025

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