Leisure

How to spell leisure

7 letters · 2 syllables

How to pronounce leisure

Say the part in capitals loudest.

What does leisure mean?

1. nounTime free from work or duties, used for rest, relaxation, or enjoyment.

Leisure in a sentence

• After the busy season, she finally had some leisure to read again.

• The resort offers plenty of leisure for guests who want to unwind.

Where does leisure come from?

Language of origin: French

Leisure came into English in the early 1300s from the Old French word leisir, which meant the freedom or opportunity to do as one pleases. That French form grew out of the Latin verb licere, meaning 'to be allowed' or 'to be permitted', so at its heart leisure is time you are free to use as you wish. The same Latin root licere also gave English 'licence' and 'licit', all sharing the idea of permission. The unusual spelling, with the tricky -ei- followed by -sure, reflects its French ancestry rather than any sounded-out logic, which is exactly why writers hesitate over the vowel order. Over the centuries the meaning narrowed from 'permitted free time' to the modern sense of relaxed time away from work.

How the word is built

• leis- (from Old French leisir, from Latin licere: to be allowed)
• -ure (noun suffix)