industry

[ in-duh-stree ]

noun

, plural in·dus·tries

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.

industry

/ 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

Other Words From

• inter·indus·try adjective
• mini-indus·try noun plural miniindustries
• non·indus·try adjective
• pre·indus·try noun adjective
• pro·indus·try adjective
• subindus·try noun plural subindustries
• super·indus·try noun plural superindustries

Word History and Origins

Origin of industry¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of industry¹

C15: from Latin industria diligence, from industrius active, of uncertain origin

Example Sentences

“It’s too much, too fast for the industry to absorb.”

From Los Angeles Times

US media giant Comcast is set to spin off its NBCUniversal cable television arm, as the industry continues to struggle with the emergence of streaming giants like Netflix and Amazon Prime.

From BBC

Like the Marvel Cinematic Universe or scripted series with countless spinoffs, reality TV has become more reliant on proven franchises as the industry becomes more risk-averse.

From Los Angeles Times

The expansion of Fresh Brothers is somewhat of an outlier in the fast-casual dining industry, where many chains have been struggling amid inflation and high labor costs.

From Los Angeles Times

Many industry groups hope the incoming administration will loosen environmental regulations.

From Science Magazine

Related Words

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