What does leisured mean?
“Leisured” is an adjective meaning relaxed, unhurried, and endowed with free time. It can describe a person, a group, a period of life, or even a manner of movement, as in “at a leisured pace.” The word is less common than “leisurely,” but it often adds a slightly literary or aristocratic tone, suggesting not merely an absence of urgency but a degree of freedom from routine demands. Historically, “the leisured class” referred to people whose wealth allowed them to avoid manual work and cultivate leisure, a social distinction that remains familiar in political and cultural commentary. In contemporary writing, the word is especially useful when the emphasis is on time as a privilege: a leisured existence, a leisured afternoon, or the leisured character of a place. Its rarity gives it a memorable, somewhat elevated quality without making it difficult to understand.
adjectiveHaving abundant free time or an unhurried, relaxed manner. Historically, it also referred to people or groups wealthy enough to have leisure.
- Having much free time; unhurried or at ease.
- Historically, belonging to a wealthy class regarded as having leisure and freedom from manual labour.
"The leisured life allowed the family to spend long afternoons reading in the garden."
"Leisured visitors could spend the whole day wandering through the old quarter."
"The archive preserves letters from the leisured women of the Victorian era."
Leisured carries a rare sense of privilege: it can describe both a relaxed pace and a life organized around having time to spare.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does leisured come from?
“Leisured” was formed in English from “leisure” with the suffix “-ed.” “Leisure” comes through Old French from a Latin word associated with being permitted or having time free from work. The modern adjective developed both the general sense of being unhurried and a historical social sense meaning wealthy enough to enjoy leisure.
Related word forms
How leisured is actually used
In modern use, “leisured” is relatively uncommon and often sounds elegant or literary. The historical social sense is more frequent in discussions of class and economic inequality than in everyday speech.
Easily confused with leisured
“Leisured” describes a person, group, or existence that has free time, whereas “leisurely” describes an action or manner performed without hurry.