industrialism
Americannoun
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of industrialism
First recorded in 1825–35; industrial + -ism
Explanation
Industrialism is a system that depends heavily on manufacturing goods, rather than farming or making things by hand. Industrialism is the economic system of a society that has transitioned away from an agrarian economy (mostly based on growing and selling crops) to one that relies on industry. Industrialism tends to increase a country’s wealth as more money is made from manufacturing plants and big factories, and it makes cheaper goods more widely available. However, large-scale industry can also create hazardous working conditions and pollution. The Latin root of industrialism means "hard work."
Vocabulary lists containing industrialism
Chapter 23: Political and Industrial Revolutions
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Vocabulary Review, Unit 2
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
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.
A similar thinking gave rise in the early 1800s to utopian experiments—small groups living off the land and, typically, sharing an aversion to industrialism.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 22, 2026
The result: an icon of industrialism grudgingly admired around the globe.
From Reuters ● Jul. 8, 2022
Sherrell does not offer statistics to support his assertions about the environmental impact of industrialism, colonialism and capitalism.
From Washington Post ● Aug. 5, 2021
The growth of the bourgeoisie arose from the explosion of urbanization that took place due to both industrialism and the breakdown of the old social order that started with the French Revolution.
From Textbooks ● Jan. 1, 2020
In England, a new industrialism was growing, and on the continent, a new nationalism.
From "I, Robot" by Isaac Asimov
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.
