Ask Difference

Hobby vs. Passion — What's the Difference?

By Tayyaba Rehman & Fiza Rafique — Updated on May 4, 2024
Hobby involves leisure activities pursued for enjoyment, typically in one's spare time, while passion is a deeper, more intense interest that drives personal fulfillment and often influences career choices.
Hobby vs. Passion — What's the Difference?

Difference Between Hobby and Passion

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Key Differences

A hobby is an activity engaged in for relaxation and enjoyment when one is not working. It's typically casual and performed during leisure time. Whereas, passion is a strong, almost compelling enthusiasm or desire for something that can dominate one's thoughts and energies.
Hobbies can vary widely from collecting stamps to playing sports, and they do not necessarily define a person's identity or career path. On the other hand, passion often dictates one's career and personal pursuits, being closely tied to life goals and personal growth.
While hobbies are generally light-hearted and not intended to generate income, passions can lead to professional development and may even become a source of income. For instance, a hobby may include painting as a form of relaxation, whereas a passion for painting might lead one to pursue a career as a professional artist.
Hobbies typically require less commitment and discipline compared to passions, which may demand substantial time, energy, and resources. A hobbyist might play the guitar during weekends, while someone passionate about music might dedicate several hours daily to practice.
While hobbies can be easily changed or swapped for other interests, passions are often long-standing and deeply embedded in a person's core values and interests. They shape decisions, influence lifestyles, and can even affect relationships.
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Comparison Chart

Purpose

For relaxation and entertainment
Drives personal fulfillment and career choices

Frequency

Often occasional
Regular and persistent

Financial Aspect

Not primarily for income
Can potentially generate income

Level of Commitment

Low to moderate
High

Influence on Identity

Partial, often casual
Strong, often defines one’s identity

Compare with Definitions

Hobby

A pursuit outside one's regular occupation engaged in especially for relaxation.
His hobby of bird-watching keeps him outdoors.

Passion

Often associated with deep emotional engagement.
His passion for music is evident in every performance.

Hobby

Engagements that are not pursued with the intent to receive a financial return.
He builds model trains as a hobby, not a business.

Passion

Tends to involve a high level of commitment and dedication.
Her passion for environmental conservation resulted in significant community changes.

Hobby

An activity done regularly in one's leisure time for pleasure.
She enjoys gardening as a hobby.

Passion

A strong inclination towards a particular activity or subject that dominates one's thoughts and interests.
His passion for chess led him to compete internationally.

Hobby

Activities characterized by a sense of playfulness and relaxation.
She took up knitting as a light-hearted hobby.

Passion

An intense desire or enthusiasm for something.
Her passion for social work inspires everyone around her.

Hobby

Casual and occasional activities that one finds interesting.
Cooking has always been one of her favorite hobbies.

Passion

A driving force that influences career and life choices.
Driven by her passion for technology, she pursued a career in software engineering.

Hobby

A hobby is considered to be a regular activity that is done for enjoyment, typically during one's leisure time. Hobbies include collecting themed items and objects, engaging in creative and artistic pursuits, playing sports, or pursuing other amusements.

Passion

Strong and barely controllable emotion
A man of impetuous passion

Hobby

An activity done regularly in one's leisure time for pleasure
Her hobbies are reading and gardening

Passion

The suffering and death of Jesus
Meditations on the Passion of Christ

Hobby

A small horse or pony.

Passion

Strong or powerful emotion
A crime of passion.

Hobby

A migratory Old World falcon with long, narrow wings, catching dragonflies and birds on the wing.

Passion

A powerful emotion, such as anger or joy
A spirit governed by intense passions.

Hobby

An activity or interest pursued outside one's regular occupation and engaged in primarily for pleasure.

Passion

A state of strong sexual desire or love
"His desire flared into a passion he could no longer check" (Barbara Taylor Bradford).

Hobby

Any of several small falcons of the genus Falco, formerly used for catching small birds or game.

Passion

The object of such desire or love
She became his passion.

Hobby

An activity that one enjoys doing in one's spare time.
I like to collect stamps from different countries as a hobby.
Take up a hobby
Give up your hobby

Passion

Boundless enthusiasm
His skills as a player don't quite match his passion for the game.

Hobby

(horses) An extinct breed of horse native to the British Isles, also known as the Irish Hobby

Passion

The object of such enthusiasm
Soccer is her passion.

Hobby

Any of four species of small falcons in the genus Falco, especially Falco subbuteo.

Passion

An abandoned display of emotion, especially of anger
He's been known to fly into a passion without warning.

Hobby

A small, strong-winged European falcon (Falco subbuteo), formerly trained for hawking.

Passion

The sufferings of Jesus in the period following the Last Supper and including the Crucifixion, as related in the New Testament.

Hobby

A strong, active horse, of a middle size, said to have been originally from Ireland; an ambling nag.

Passion

A narrative, musical setting, or pictorial representation of Jesus's sufferings.

Hobby

A stick, often with the head or figure of a horse, on which boys make believe to ride.

Passion

Martyrdom
The passion of Saint Margaret.

Hobby

A subject or plan upon which one is constantly setting off; a favorite and ever-recurring theme of discourse, thought, or effort; that which occupies one's attention unduly, or to the weariness of others; a ruling passion.
Not one of them has any hobbyhorse, to use the phrase of Sterne.

Passion

A true desire sustained or prolonged.

Hobby

An auxiliary activity

Passion

Any great, strong, powerful emotion, especially romantic love or extreme hate.
We share a passion for books.

Hobby

A child's plaything consisting of an imitation horse mounted on rockers; the child straddles it and pretends to ride

Passion

Fervor, determination.

Hobby

Small Old World falcon formerly trained and flown at small birds

Passion

An object of passionate or romantic love or strong romantic interest.
It started as a hobby, but now my motorbike collection has become my passion.

Passion

Sexual intercourse, especially when very emotional.
We shared a night of passion.

Passion

The suffering of Jesus leading up to and during his crucifixion.

Passion

A display, musical composition, or play meant to commemorate the suffering of Jesus.

Passion

(obsolete) Suffering or enduring of imposed or inflicted pain; any suffering or distress.
A cardiac passion

Passion

(obsolete) The state of being acted upon; subjection to an external agent or influence; a passive condition

Passion

(obsolete) The capacity of being affected by external agents; susceptibility of impressions from external agents.

Passion

(obsolete) An innate attribute, property, or quality of a thing.
[...] to obtain the knowledge of some passion of the circle.

Passion

(obsolete) Disorder of the mind; madness.

Passion

(obsolete) To suffer pain or sorrow; to experience a passion; to be extremely agitated.

Passion

(transitive) To give a passionate character to.

Passion

A suffering or enduring of imposed or inflicted pain; any suffering or distress (as, a cardiac passion); specifically, the suffering of Christ between the time of the last supper and his death, esp. in the garden upon the cross.
To whom also he showed himself alive after his passion, by many infallible proofs.

Passion

The state of being acted upon; subjection to an external agent or influence; a passive condition; - opposed to action.
A body at rest affords us no idea of any active power to move, and, when set in motion, it is rather a passion than an action in it.

Passion

Capacity of being affected by external agents; susceptibility of impressions from external agents.
Moldable and not moldable, scissible and not scissible, and many other passions of matter.

Passion

The state of the mind when it is powerfully acted upon and influenced by something external to itself; the state of any particular faculty which, under such conditions, becomes extremely sensitive or uncontrollably excited; any emotion or sentiment (specifically, love or anger) in a state of abnormal or controlling activity; an extreme or inordinate desire; also, the capacity or susceptibility of being so affected; as, to be in a passion; the passions of love, hate, jealously, wrath, ambition, avarice, fear, etc.; a passion for war, or for drink; an orator should have passion as well as rhetorical skill.
We also are men of like passions with you.
The nature of the human mind can not be sufficiently understood, without considering the affections and passions, or those modifications or actions of the mind consequent upon the apprehension of certain objects or events in which the mind generally conceives good or evil.
The term passion, and its adverb passionately, often express a very strong predilection for any pursuit, or object of taste - a kind of enthusiastic fondness for anything.
The bravery of his grief did put meInto a towering passion.
The ruling passion, be it what it will,The ruling passion conquers reason still.
Who walked in every path of human life,Felt every passion.
When statesmen are ruled by faction and interest, they can have no passion for the glory of their country.

Passion

Disorder of the mind; madness.

Passion

Passion week. See Passion week, below.

Passion

To give a passionate character to.

Passion

To suffer pain or sorrow; to experience a passion; to be extremely agitated.

Passion

Strong feeling or emotion

Passion

Intense passion or emotion

Passion

Something that is desired intensely;
His rage for fame destroyed him

Passion

An irrational but irresistible motive for a belief or action

Passion

A feeling of strong sexual desire

Passion

Any object of warm affection or devotion;
The theater was her first love
He has a passion for cock fighting

Passion

The suffering of Jesus at the crucifixion

Common Curiosities

What defines a passion?

Passion is a strong, driving enthusiasm for an activity or field that significantly influences a person's life and possibly their career.

Can a hobby turn into a passion?

Yes, a hobby can evolve into a passion if it becomes a central focus and deeply influences a person's decisions and lifestyle.

Do hobbies have any benefits?

Hobbies provide relaxation, can enhance creativity, and offer a break from the daily routine, contributing to overall well-being.

What is a hobby?

A hobby is a leisure activity that one engages in for pleasure during free time.

Can one have multiple passions?

Yes, it is possible to have multiple passions, although each may require significant time and energy.

Is a passion always related to one's career?

While not always, passion often influences career choices due to its intense and personal significance.

How can someone balance between a hobby and a passion?

Balancing a hobby and a passion involves managing time and resources so that neither is neglected, ensuring personal satisfaction in both areas.

How can I differentiate between my hobbies and my passions?

Hobbies are generally more casual and less consuming than passions, which are characterized by a deep commitment and a strong desire to excel.

Why is it important to have hobbies?

Hobbies can significantly improve mental health, reduce stress, and provide opportunities for socializing and personal development.

How does one discover their passion?

Passions are often discovered through exploration of interests, experiences in different activities, and noticing what consistently engages and excites you.

Are hobbies usually shared with others?

Hobbies can be both solitary or shared activities, depending on the nature of the hobby and the individual's preferences.

Is it necessary to monetize a passion?

It is not necessary to monetize a passion; many people pursue their passions purely for personal satisfaction and fulfillment.

Can passions change over time?

Yes, as individuals grow and evolve, their passions can also change depending on their life experiences and changing interests.

What impact can pursuing a passion have on one's life?

Pursuing a passion can lead to profound personal fulfillment, high levels of personal achievement, and potentially, a fulfilling career path.

What role do passions play in personal growth?

Passions can drive personal growth by challenging individuals to develop skills, knowledge, and resilience in pursuit of their interests.

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Author Spotlight

Written by
Tayyaba Rehman
Tayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Fiza Rafique
Fiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.

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