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

It is widely followed by tech enthusiasts, from industry practitioners to AI-curious young people.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

In November 2024, the government confirmed it was reviewing the funeral industry after the family of one Legacy victim visited Westminster to campaign.

From BBC • Apr. 2, 2026

While peers have seen their oil output per foot of drilling drop by 16% since 2020, Diamondback has actually become more efficient, Kumar said, citing industry data.

From Barron's • Apr. 2, 2026

Emma Hardy, MP for Hull West and Haltemprice, said the scenes described by the crisis team were "unforgivable" and added further weight to calls for regulation of the funeral industry.

From BBC • Apr. 2, 2026

You won’t find Copernicus, or Kepler, or Galileo praising moderation, impartiality, industry; but then Copernicus, Kepler and Galileo are primarily mathematicians.

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton

Related Words

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