hobbyism

7.3

A strong interest that makes a person spend a lot of free time on a favourite activity

noun
/ˈhɑːbiˌɪzəm/

: afición

Many people find joy and relaxation in hobbyism, often engaging in activities like gardening or crafting.

Examples

Her hobbyism manifests in her dedication to painting, which she practices every weekend.
His hobbyism became evident when he turned his passion for photography into a thriving second career.
A long history of "Indianism" or Native American "hobbyism," for example, helps to promote Native American studies in countries like Germany, Austria, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Russia, Scandinavia, and Finland.

Academic text (2011)
Fed by hobbyism, general cultisms (e.g., the "human potential movement"), and by a continuing revitalization of interest in Indians as spiritual healers of European ills, the commercial exploitation by Indian gurus has taken on a new life.

Academic text (2000)

Antonyms

apathy

43 6.2

A lack of interest or care about things

disinterest

9 5.8

Not feeling interested in something, like a talk or task

How Serious

hobbyism

7.3

hobby

298 1.0

avocation

5 7.9

pastime

52 2.0

Surface Forms

hobbyism singular

hobbyisms plural

Morphology

hobbyism = hobby (transparent) = hobby + ism

The meaning is clearly formed from the noun 'hobby' plus the productive suffix '-ism' denoting a practice or devotion, so the sense is directly derivable.

Etymology

Hobbyism comes from the common word hobby 'a pastime or activity you enjoy' and the ending -ism as in tourism 'a practice', so it means the practice or strong interest in hobbies. The word hobby itself comes from hobbyhorse 'a toy horse' and grew to mean a favourite pastime, which helps explain why hobbyism is about being devoted to hobbies.