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

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

cottage industry

Read Katie’s full story for a deeper look at how brands are navigating the backlash—and the cottage industry of agencies promising to help.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026

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

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 5, 2026

Mombasa B is in a fleet of tankers controlled by the dominant company in the cottage industry of shuttle shippers, South Korea’s Sinokor.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 14, 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

Somebody called and asked about ordering an ID card, the cottage industry that at fifty bucks a pop will help underwrite their contemplated move to Chicago.

From "Geeks: How Two Lost Boys Rode the Internet Out of Idaho" by Jon Katz