industry

American  

[in-duh-stree] / ˈɪn də stri /

noun

plural

industries

1. the aggregate of manufacturing or technically productive enterprises in a particular field, often named after its principal product.

   the automobile industry;

   the steel industry.

2. any general business activity; commercial enterprise.

   the Italian tourist industry.

3. trade or manufacture in general.

   the rise of industry in Africa.

4. the ownership and management of companies, factories, etc..

   friction between labor and industry.

5. systematic work or labor.

6. energetic, devoted activity at any work or task; diligence.

   Her teacher praised her industry.

   Synonyms:

   industriousness, assiduity, effort, application

7. the aggregate of work, scholarship, and ancillary activity in a particular field, often named after its principal subject.

   the Mozart industry.

8. Archaeology. an assemblage of artifacts regarded as unmistakably the work of a single prehistoric group.

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industry British  

/ ˈɪndəstrɪ /

noun

1. organized economic activity concerned with manufacture, extraction and processing of raw materials, or construction

2. a branch of commercial enterprise concerned with the output of a specified product or service

   the steel industry

3. 1. industrial ownership and management interests collectively, as contrasted with labour interests

   2. manufacturing enterprise collectively, as opposed to agriculture

4. diligence; assiduity

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Other Word Forms

• interindustry adjective
• mini-industry noun
• nonindustry adjective
• preindustry noun
• proindustry adjective
• subindustry noun
• superindustry noun

Etymology

Origin of industry

First recorded in 1475–85; earlier industrie, from Latin industria, noun use of feminine of industrius “diligent, assiduous”; industrious

Example Sentences

The Indian steel industry is likely to report a 5%-6% on year gain in domestic volume in the three months ended December, while average prices of hot-rolled coil and rebar likely declined on quarter.

From The Wall Street Journal

The licensing restrictions extend across Japanese industry, the people said, and don’t only target Japanese defense companies.

From The Wall Street Journal

The movie industry is really hanging by a thread right now.

From Los Angeles Times

JOP prides himself in teaching his artists the ins and outs of the music industry, including negotiation skills he wishes he’d learned at the start of his career.

From Los Angeles Times

He has, I think, some really sharp opinions, views on like what this business is, what the industry is like right now and where it’s going.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• business
• commerce
• corporation
• management
• production
• trade