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 effort
2 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