noun
pastime
PAS-tym
noun
1
An activity you do purely for enjoyment or to fill spare time.
"Gardening has become her favourite pastime since retiring."
"Fishing is a relaxing pastime for many people."
How to Use Pastime
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomething you do for fun or to occupy your free time, not for work or necessity.
Common pairings
favourite pastime
national pastime
harmless pastime
Word Forms
pastimed past tense, pastimes plural, pastimes singular
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Gardening has become her favourite _____ since retiring.
Etymology
From Middle English passe tyme, literally "pass the time" — a direct English coinage modelled on French passetemps.