leisure

leisure — noun

1. hours that are yours to fill as you like, free from work, study, or chores

1.nounB1
Definition

hours that are yours to fill as you like, free from work, study, or chores

Example

After retirement, Mr. Chen finally had more leisure to spend with his grandchildren.

leisure + to-infinitive (time available for a purpose)

The company offers employees a good work–leisure balance through flexible scheduling.

collocation: work–leisure balance

Common collocations
  • leisure time
  • leisure hours
  • leisure activities
  • leisure facilities
  • leisure centre
Synonyms
  • free time

    more common in everyday conversation; less formal than 'leisure'

  • spare time

    suggests time left over after other activities, not deliberately set aside

  • downtime

    informal; often implies rest and recovery from work rather than active choice

Antonyms
  • work

    the primary opposite; the activity that occupies non-leisure hours

  • duty

    obligations such as chores or caregiving that fill free hours

Grammar Patterns

leisure + to-infinitive

possessive + leisure

Usage Note

Uncountable — do not say 'a leisure' or 'two leisures'. Frequently used in possessive structures (her leisure, their leisure).

Common Mistakes

I have no any leisure because I am too busy.
I have no leisure because I am too busy.
'any' is not needed with 'no'.
I need a leisure.
I need some leisure.
'leisure' is uncountable; use 'some' or 'a period of leisure'.

2. things that people do simply because they enjoy them, during the time when they

2.nounB1
Definition

things that people do simply because they enjoy them, during the time when they are not working or doing necessary tasks — for instance, sports, reading, travel, or creative hobbies

Example

The city government invested heavily in leisure facilities such as public swimming pools and parks.

collocation: leisure facilities

Ife's favourite leisure activity is hiking in the hills near her hometown at weekends.

collocation: leisure activity

Common collocations
  • leisure industry
  • leisure centre
  • leisure facilities
  • leisure activities
Synonyms
  • recreation

    more formal; implies organised or structured enjoyable activities

  • entertainment

    focuses on being amused or diverted, often by paid events or media

  • pastime

    a specific hobby or enjoyable regular activity, more personal

Antonyms
  • work

    the activity that generates income or fulfils obligations

  • chores

    unpleasant but necessary household tasks

Grammar Patterns

leisure + noun (compound modifier)

for leisure

Usage Note

Often used attributively (leisure facility, leisure industry). This sense has a more concrete, activity-oriented feel than sense 1 — if you can replace 'leisure' with 'recreation' in a sentence, you are in sense 2.

Common Mistakes

His leisure include swimming and golf.
His leisure activities include swimming and golf.
'leisure' itself is uncountable; use 'leisure activities' to list specific pursuits.
I like to leisure in my free time.
I like to do leisure activities in my free time.
'leisure' is a noun, not a verb.
Idioms

at leisure

idiom

in a state of being free from work or other responsibilities; not occupied

The old cat lay in the sun all afternoon, completely at leisure.

at your leisure

idiom

when you have the time and are not busy, without needing to hurry

Please read the contract at your leisure and let Hari know if you have any questions.

a gentleman/lady of leisure

idiom

a humorous way to describe someone who does not have to work for a living and can spend their time as they wish

Since he retired at fifty, Uncle Paul has been a gentleman of leisure.

Word family

  • leisurely
    adjectiveB2
  • leisurely
    adverbB2
  • leisured
    adjectiveC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

'Free time' is the most neutral and widely used term for hours not occupied by obligations — 'I use my free time to learn Spanish.' 'Spare time' suggests time left over after everything else is done, often in small amounts — 'She knitted in her spare time.' It sounds slightly more British. 'Downtime' is informal and originally technical (computer systems), now used for rest or recovery from work — 'I need some downtime after that meeting.' 'Leisure' is the most formal of the four and carries a sense of positive, chosen activity. A 'leisure centre' would not normally be called a 'free-time centre'. Choose 'free time' for casual conversation, 'leisure' for more formal or institutional contexts.

free timespare timedowntime

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • work and leisure
  • business and leisure
  • leisure and entertainment
  • leisure time activities

Prepositions

  • at leisure (idiom)
  • at your leisure (idiom)
  • for leisure (purpose)
  • in your leisure (time/hours)

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchMiddle EnglishEnglish

Leisure entered English from Old French 'leisir', meaning 'to be allowed' or 'free time'. That word came from Latin 'licēre', which meant 'to be permitted'. The original idea was not just 'free time' but 'time that one is permitted to use freely'. The modern spelling settled in the 16th century, shifting from Middle English 'leisur'.