industrial
Americanadjective
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of, pertaining to, of the nature of, or resulting from industry.
industrial production; industrial waste.
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having many and highly developed industries.
an industrial nation.
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engaged in an industry or industries.
industrial workers.
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of or relating to the workers in industries.
industrial training.
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used in industry.
industrial diamonds: industrial fabrics.
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noting or pertaining to industrial life insurance.
adjective
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of, relating to, derived from, or characteristic of industry
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employed in industry
the industrial workforce
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relating to or concerned with workers in industry
industrial conditions
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used in industry
industrial chemicals
Other Word Forms
- industrially adverb
- industrialness noun
- nonindustrial adjective
- nonindustrially adverb
- preindustrial adjective
- proindustrial adjective
- quasi-industrial adjective
- quasi-industrially adverb
- semi-industrial adjective
- semi-industrially adverb
- unindustrial adjective
Etymology
Origin of industrial
Explanation
Something industrial has to do with industry or factories. If you're taking a stroll alone at night, avoid the industrial areas — there aren't many people around after business hours and it can be kind of spooky. Industrial, besides meaning "having to do with industry," has also come to mean "tough," capable of withstanding wear and tear. If you're carpeting your home, avoid industrial carpet. It's easy to clean but not so soft. An industrial nation is a developed nation with manufacturing as part of its economy. If you work in the industrial sector, as opposed to say the arts sector, you work in manufacturing.
Vocabulary lists containing industrial
Eastern Europe - Introductory
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East Asia - Middle School
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East Asia - Introductory
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Germany, with Europe's largest economy, should see GDP expand 0.8 percent this year instead of 1.1 percent as its power-hungry industrial heavyweights face higher energy costs.
From Barron's • Apr. 14, 2026
Magyar has spoken of Hungary being robbed bare, with billions going missing in state contracts and corruption taking place on an industrial scale.
From BBC • Apr. 14, 2026
“The shape and global standing of Europe’s steel sector are fundamental to our strategic autonomy and industrial strength,” Maros Sefcovic, the EU’s top trade negotiator, said.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 14, 2026
Things have been looking up after three consecutive months of industrial economic growth.
From Barron's • Apr. 13, 2026
Only big industrial farms that could act as distributors for vuvv foodstuffs stayed viable.
From "Landscape with Invisible Hand" by M.T. Anderson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
