sector
SEHK-tuhr
Sector (noun) means a distinct part or division of something larger, especially an area of economic or social activity. Example: “Farming is a key sector of the rural economy in this region.”
noun
1
A distinct part or division of something larger, especially an area of economic or social activity.
"Farming is a key sector of the rural economy in this region."
"The healthcare sector added thousands of jobs last year."
"Investors moved money out of the tech sector during the downturn."
2
A designated area or zone, especially a military or administrative district.
"The park was divided into four sectors, each with its own warden."
"The battalion was assigned to defend the eastern sector."
"Each patrol covers a different sector of the city."
3
In geometry, a pie-slice-shaped part of a circle bounded by two radii and the arc between them.
"The angle at the centre of the sector was exactly ninety degrees."
"He cut the circular cake so each guest got an equal sector."
"She calculated the area of the shaded sector."
4
A fixed-size block of data on a disk, traditionally 512 bytes, that forms part of a track.
"The program could not read the damaged sector of the disk."
"Each sector on the old floppy disk stored a small block of data."
"The hard drive reported several bad sectors."
How to use sector
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA slice or division of something — a part of a circle, an area of land, or a branch of the economy.
Common pairings
private sector
public sector
financial sector
a sector of the economy
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Word forms
- Plural
- sectors
Fill the gap
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Farming is a key _____ of the rural economy in this region.
Etymology
From Latin sector, "cutter," from secare, "to cut" — the same root behind "section" and "dissect."
Related words
Rhymes for sector
vector
hector
rector
ejector
Spector
director
detector
defector
injector
inspector
collector
protector
See all rhymes for sector →
Frequently asked questions
What does “sector” mean?
The word “sector” means a distinct part or division of something larger, especially an area of economic or social activity. In plain terms, a slice or division of something — a part of a circle, an area of land, or a branch of the economy.
How do you pronounce “sector”?
“Sector” is pronounced SEHK-tuhr (/ˈsɛk.təɹ/ in IPA).
How do you use “sector” in a sentence?
Here is “sector” used in a sentence: “The healthcare sector added thousands of jobs last year.”
What part of speech is “sector”?
“Sector” is a noun.
Where does the word “sector” come from?
The word “sector” comes from Latin. From Latin sector, "cutter," from secare, "to cut" — the same root behind "section" and "dissect.".
Is “sector” a common word?
“Sector” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “sector” have?
“Sector” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a distinct part or division of something larger, especially an area of economic or social activity.
What is the difference between a sector and an industry?
A sector is a broad area of the economy, while an industry is a narrower group within it. The technology sector, for instance, contains the software, hardware, and semiconductor industries. Sectors gather related industries under one heading; industries group companies doing very similar work. The terms are used loosely, but sector is the wider one.
What are the main economic sectors?
Economists often split the economy into the primary sector (raw materials like farming and mining), the secondary sector (manufacturing and construction), and the tertiary sector (services). Some add a quaternary sector for knowledge and information work. A separate split divides activity into the public, private, and voluntary sectors by who owns and runs it.
What is the difference between the public and private sector?
The public sector is owned and run by the government and funded largely through taxes — schools, hospitals, and the police, for example. The private sector is made up of businesses owned by individuals or shareholders and driven by profit. A third, voluntary sector covers charities and non-profits that fall outside both.
What is an example of a sector?
The healthcare sector, the financial sector, the agricultural sector, and the education sector are all examples. Each names a distinct area of activity made up of many organisations doing related work. The word can also apply outside economics — a sector of a city or of society — meaning any distinct division of a larger whole.
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