Main Entry:

in·dus·try

Pronunciation:

\ˈin-(ˌ)dəs-trē\

Function:

noun

Inflected Form(s):

plural in·dus·tries

Etymology:

Middle English (Scots) industrie, from Middle French, from Latin industria, from industrius diligent, from Old Latin indostruus, perhaps from indu in + -struus (akin to Latin struere to build) — more at end-, strew

Date:

15th century

1: diligence in an employment or pursuit ; especially : steady or habitual effort2 a: systematic labor especially for some useful purpose or the creation of something of value b: a department or branch of a craft, art, business, or manufacture ; especially : one that employs a large personnel and capital especially in manufacturing c: a distinct group of productive or profit-making enterprises <the banking industry> d: manufacturing activity as a whole <the nation's industry>3: work devoted to the study of a particular subject or author <the Shakespeare industry>

synonyms see business