pottery

noun

pot·​tery ˈpä-tə-rē How to pronounce pottery (audio)
plural potteries
1
: a place where clayware is made and fired
2
a
: the art or craft of the potter
b
: the manufacture of clayware
3
: clayware
especially : earthenware as distinguished from porcelain and stoneware and from brick and tile

Examples of pottery in a Sentence

He has collected pottery for years. She was a painter for years before she discovered pottery.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Mix macrame wall art with rattan furniture, earthy color palettes, and handmade pottery for a cozy, creative atmosphere. Elizabeth Fogarty, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 June 2025 Visual Arts: Experiment with watercolor, sketching, pottery or digital art. Caroline Castrillon, Forbes.com, 20 June 2025 The lobby will feature a video mural of the history of the Catawba Nation, along with its pottery and basket making traditions, Trent Troxel, vice president of the Catawba Nation Gaming Authority, said on the tour. Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 18 June 2025 Creative Workshops: Attend pottery, woodworking or art classes that combine learning with social interaction. Caroline Castrillon, Forbes.com, 20 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for pottery

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of pottery was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pottery.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pottery. Accessed 6 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

pottery

noun
pot·​tery ˈpät-ə-rē How to pronounce pottery (audio)
plural potteries
1
: a place where clay articles (as pots and vases) are made
2
: the art of the potter : ceramics
3
: articles made from clay that is shaped while moist and hardened by heat

More from Merriam-Webster on pottery

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!