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
Derived Forms
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.
Output is expected to weaken ahead as the energy shock takes its toll on industrial operations.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 15, 2026
That was the case for William Stockwell, who wanted to protect the future of Stockwell Elastomerics, the Philadelphia-based manufacturer of industrial components that his great-grandfather started in 1919.
From BBC • Jun. 14, 2026
I’m a gun owner, I love German industrial music, and when it comes to video games, I almost exclusively play Eastern European survival horror.
From Slate • Jun. 14, 2026
The goal here is simple: Bridge the gap between quantum developers and industrial heavyweights before larger quantum systems arrive, bringing with it the computational power to leave classical systems in the dust.
From Barron's • Jun. 12, 2026
Soon enough, I reached that area of the riverfront known as Smokey Hollow, an industrial labyrinth of factories and workshops.
From "The City Beautiful" by Aden Polydoros
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.
