cottage industry

American  

noun

1. the production, for sale, of goods at home, as the making of handicrafts by rural families.

2. any small-scale, loosely organized industry.

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cottage industry British  

noun

1. an industry in which employees work in their own homes, often using their own equipment

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Etymology

Origin of cottage industry

First recorded in 1920–25

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

cottage industry

A cottage industry of charities and consultancies have cropped up to help claimants navigate the benefits claim system, which can be both byzantine and, critics say, gamable.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 12, 2026

In the intervening years, however, a cottage industry of compounding pharmacies emerged, including Ro and Hims & Hers Health.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 5, 2026

As a result, a cottage industry of mental health “expat therapists” has emerged, helping people navigate these complex emotions of moving abroad.

From Salon ● Jul. 11, 2026

What was once a cottage industry of such training has metamorphosed, with nearly every multifamily office, bank and peer-membership group offering its own version.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 1, 2026

Daniel and Moses thought they were paying a courtesy call on a cottage industry, but the cottage was a castle.

From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis

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