What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
recreation
Example
Playing board games is a great form of recreation. [recreation: noun]
Example
She enjoys recreating in the park on weekends. [recreating: gerund or present participle]
leisure
Example
I like to read books during my leisure time. [leisure: noun]
Example
They spent the afternoon leisurely strolling through the city. [leisurely: adverb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Leisure is more commonly used than recreation in British English, while recreation is more commonly used in American English. Both words are used in everyday language, but leisure is a more versatile term that can be used in various contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between recreation and leisure?
Both recreation and leisure are neutral terms that can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
