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Definition of pastime

pastime

/ˈpæstaɪm/
pas · time
Plural:pastimes
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pastime Lexical Profile

pastime Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

An activity that someone does regularly for enjoyment rather than work; a hobby or recreation.

Example

"Reading historical fiction on the porch has long been her favorite summer pastime."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for pastime
Antonyms
View all antonyms for pastime

Word Nuance & Usage

Do not confuse the spelling of 'pastime' (one 's', meaning a recreational activity) with 'pass time' (two words, meaning to let time go by) or 'past time' (two words, meaning overdue).

• Nearby Words

pastel
pasteurization
pasteurize
pastime
pastina
pastiness
pasting

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed in the late 15th century from Middle French 'passe-temps', a compound of 'passer' (to pass) and 'temps' (time), literally meaning that which passes the time.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Pastime. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/pastime
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