nightlife vs recreation

nightlife and recreation both are nouns.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
nightlife	Yes	No	No	No
recreation	Yes	No	No	No

As nouns, recreation is a hypernym of nightlife; that is, recreation is a word with a broader meaning than nightlife:

nightlife: the activity of people seeking nighttime diversion (as at the theater, a nightclub, etc.)
recreation: an activity that diverts or amuses or stimulates

Other hypernyms of nightlife include diversion.

nightlife (noun)	recreation (noun)
the activity of people seeking nighttime diversion (as at the theater, a nightclub, etc.)	an activity that diverts or amuses or stimulates
the entertainment available to people seeking nighttime diversion	activity that refreshes and recreates; activity that renews your health and spirits by enjoyment and relaxation