industrial

American  

[in-duhs-tree-uhl] / ɪnˈdʌs tri əl /

adjective

1. of, pertaining to, of the nature of, or resulting from industry.

   industrial production; industrial waste.

2. having many and highly developed industries.

   an industrial nation.

3. engaged in an industry or industries.

   industrial workers.

4. of or relating to the workers in industries.

   industrial training.

5. used in industry.

   industrial diamonds: industrial fabrics.

6. noting or pertaining to industrial life insurance.

---

noun

1. an industrial product.

   diamonds classed as industrials and nonindustrials.

2. a company engaged in industrial enterprises.

3. an employee in some industry, especially a manufacturing industry.

4. industrials, stocks and bonds of industrial companies.

industrial British  

/ ɪnˈdʌstrɪəl /

adjective

1. of, relating to, derived from, or characteristic of industry

2. employed in industry

   the industrial workforce

3. relating to or concerned with workers in industry

   industrial conditions

4. 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

First recorded in 1580–90; industry + -al ¹

Example Sentences

As the lake’s water sources diminish because of water use agreements regarding the Colorado River, and as this region gains more industrial activity from proposed lithium extraction, air pollution is likely to only worsen.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2026

Banks and industrial stocks slipped as the Europe-wide Stoxx 600 fell 1.2%, largely reversing gains made in the last session.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 2, 2026

Metal-intensive industrial equipment and electrical grid equipment will pay a 15% rate through 2027, and products made abroad but “entirely with American steel, aluminum, and copper” will be subject to 10% tariffs.

From Barron's • Apr. 2, 2026

The researchers suggest that existing industrial fryers could be upgraded with microwave generators, which are relatively low cost and widely available.

From Science Daily • Apr. 2, 2026

There they can be fruitfully active in less risky work: illustration, typographic design, industrial design, and interior design, for example.

From "History of Art, Volume 1" by H.W. Janson

Related Words

• industrialized
• mechanical
• modern
• technical