pottery

noun

pot·​tery ˈpä-tə-rē 

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

Synonyms

• ceramics

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

Dollywood also has an art scene with performances, glassblowing showcases and artisans making pottery. —Ashley J. Dimella, FOXNews.com, 5 Aug. 2025

The building's interior has a floorspace of 300,000 sq ft (almost 30,000 sq m), spread over five floors, and will host galleries, theaters, and a huge repository of art – with everything from ancient pottery to Jar Jar Binks ephemera. —Adam Williams july 27, New Atlas, 27 July 2025

More than 300 local artists display handcrafted pieces, from pottery and quilts to stained glass and photography. —Erin Gifford, Southern Living, 24 July 2025

The juried event exhibits fine arts and crafts, including paintings, photography, pottery, glass, wood, jewelry, metal, mixed media, drawings and fiber art. —Elaine Rewolinski, jsonline.com, 22 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for pottery

• cautery
• lottery
• watery

Kids Definition

pottery

noun

pot·​tery ˈpät-ə-rē 

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