industry
IHN-duh-stree
Industry (noun) means a particular branch of economic or commercial activity, such as manufacturing or a specific trade. Example: “The tech industry has grown rapidly over the past decade.”
noun
1
A particular branch of economic or commercial activity, such as manufacturing or a specific trade.
"The tech industry has grown rapidly over the past decade."
"My uncle works in the fishing industry and often leaves home before dawn."
"The film industry employs a huge number of people behind the scenes."
2
Businesses that manufacture goods, considered as a whole, as opposed to services.
"The car industry employs thousands of workers in factories across the country."
"Many countries rely on industry rather than farming for most of their income."
"Heavy industry once dominated the region's economy."
3
Steady, hard-working effort or diligence.
"Her industry and attention to detail impressed the whole team."
"The village was known for the industry of its farmers at harvest time."
"He admired the quiet industry of the ants carrying food back to the nest."
How to use industry
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA field of business, or more old-fashioned, a person's hard-working effort.
Common pairings
the fashion industry
heavy industry
a captain of industry
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Word forms
- Plural
- industries
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The tech _____ has grown rapidly over the past decade.
Etymology
From Old French industrie, from Latin industria ("diligence, activity"), from industrius ("diligent, active").
Synonyms
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sector
trade
business
field
commerce
line of business
diligence
industriousness
manufacture
businesses that produce goods
Antonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “industry” mean?
The word “industry” means a particular branch of economic or commercial activity, such as manufacturing or a specific trade. In plain terms, a field of business, or more old-fashioned, a person's hard-working effort.
How do you pronounce “industry”?
“Industry” is pronounced IHN-duh-stree (/ˈɪn.də.stɹi/ in IPA).
How do you use “industry” in a sentence?
Here is “industry” used in a sentence: “The tech industry has grown rapidly over the past decade.”
What is another word for “industry”?
Words with a similar meaning to “industry” include businesses that produce goods.
What part of speech is “industry”?
“Industry” is a noun.
Where does the word “industry” come from?
The word “industry” comes from Latin. From Old French industrie, from Latin industria ("diligence, activity"), from industrius ("diligent, active").
Is “industry” a common word?
“Industry” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “industry” have?
“Industry” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a particular branch of economic or commercial activity, such as manufacturing or a specific trade.
What are the main types of industry?
Industry is often grouped into four sectors. Primary industry extracts raw materials, such as farming and mining. Secondary industry makes goods, like manufacturing. Tertiary industry provides services, from retail to healthcare. Quaternary industry handles knowledge and information, including research and IT. Together they cover the whole economy.
What is the difference between an industry and a business?
A business is a single company, like one carmaker. An industry is the entire group of companies doing the same kind of work — the whole car-making sector. So many competing businesses together make up one industry. "Sector" is often used to mean much the same thing as industry.
What is an example of an industry?
The automotive industry builds cars, the tourism industry runs hotels and travel, and the technology industry creates software and devices. Others include farming, construction, fashion, and film. Each names a branch of economic activity where many companies produce related goods or services.
Does "industry" have another meaning?
Yes. Apart from a branch of the economy, "industry" can mean hard work and diligence, as in "her success came through sheer industry." This older sense describes steady, productive effort. It survives in words like "industrious," meaning hardworking, though the economic meaning is far more common today.
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