INDUSTRY Synonyms: 28 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'industry' distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of industry are business , commerce , trade , and traffic . While all these words mean "activity concerned with the supplying and distribution of commodities," industry applies to the producing of commodities, especially by manufacturing or processing, usually on a large scale.

Q: When might 'business' be a better fit than 'industry'?

While the synonyms business and industry are close in meaning, business may be an inclusive term but specifically designates the activities of those engaged in the purchase or sale of commodities or in related financial transactions.

Q: How do 'commerce' and 'trade' relate to one another, in the sense of 'industry'?

Both commerce and trade imply the exchange and transportation of commodities.

Q: When could 'traffic' be used to replace 'industry'?

The meanings of traffic and industry largely overlap; however, traffic applies to the operation and functioning of public carriers of goods and persons.

industry

noun

ˈin-(ˌ)də-strē

Definition of industry next

as in effort

attentive and persistent effort he isn't the smartest kid in class, but he gets the best grades by determined industry

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How is the word industry distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of industry are business, commerce, trade, and traffic. While all these words mean "activity concerned with the supplying and distribution of commodities," industry applies to the producing of commodities, especially by manufacturing or processing, usually on a large scale.

When might business be a better fit than industry?

While the synonyms business and industry are close in meaning, business may be an inclusive term but specifically designates the activities of those engaged in the purchase or sale of commodities or in related financial transactions.

How do commerce and trade relate to one another, in the sense of industry?

Both commerce and trade imply the exchange and transportation of commodities.

When could traffic be used to replace industry?

The meanings of traffic and industry largely overlap; however, traffic applies to the operation and functioning of public carriers of goods and persons.

Example Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of industry Osuji is a longtime lover of fashion and specifically footwear, pivoting to the industry from a background in engineering. —

Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 4 Feb. 2026 From Tennessee to Texas, musicians were breaking rules and flouting tradition in what the industry called Outlaw Country. —

Mia Galuppo, HollywoodReporter, 4 Feb. 2026 Littleton praised Longeretta as a true team player who is well known and well liked in the industry. —

William Earl, Variety, 4 Feb. 2026 Gatis cited accounting as an example of an industry that could face those types of reductions. —

Karoline Leonard, Austin American Statesman, 4 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for industry

Recent Examples of Synonyms for industry

Noun

Search and rescue mission coordinators, on-scene commanders and the Coast Guard determined on Saturday all reasonable search efforts for the missing crew members had been exhausted.

— Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 4 Feb. 2026
That narrative continued Tuesday despite Sarandos’s best efforts to describe the reality of Netflix’s content slate.

— Liam Reilly, CNN Money, 4 Feb. 2026