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

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 Fragrance, live artistry, industry intelligence, trend forecasting, international business and social impact will all feature in a program that reflects the breadth and evolution of the global beauty industry. — Advertorial, Footwear News, 29 Sep. 2026 Cost Structure The airline industry operates on margins that leave almost no room for operational waste. — Abha Dogra, Forbes.com, 29 Sep. 2026 But producers in the oil industry said the move would backfire for California. — Los Angeles Times, 29 Sep. 2026 The majority of people in the industry, unfortunately, don’t understand it as much and that’s 100% our fault. — Anna Marie De La Fuente, Variety, 29 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for industry

Recent Examples of Synonyms for industry

Noun

For decades, the European Union has led the world in implementing policies designed to cut emissions, creating the world’s most important price on carbon and crafting the rules of the road for a wide range of regulatory efforts.

— Justin Worland, Time, 3 Oct. 2026
Pan, a pediatrician, made national headlines while in the Legislature for leading California’s efforts to enact strict school vaccine laws.

— Mathew Miranda, Sacbee.com, 3 Oct. 2026

Definition of effort

Noun

Prioritize the items that would surface in diligence, an audit or a dispute.

— Jeremy Bradley-Silverio Donato, Forbes.com, 25 Sep. 2026
Taaffe’s diligence, intelligence, understanding of the position (beyond his years) and detailed preparation have earned him the trust of coach Jeff Hafley.

— Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 23 Sep. 2026

Definition of diligence

Noun

Bringing domain controllers online before validating their integrity can restore the attacker’s persistence along with them.

— Robert Bobel, Forbes.com, 29 Sep. 2026
An attacker gains initial access, establishes persistence, escalates privileges, moves laterally and eventually achieves an objective such as data theft or disruption.

— Ascend Agency, New York Daily News, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of persistence

Noun

While the Queen Mother was very fond of this Queen Victoria tiara and wore it with relative assiduity, her daughter only wore it once in public, on an official trip to Malta in November 2005.

— Ana Serrano, Glamour, 7 Dec. 2025
These indestructible treasures have always been buried in matter, awaiting the invention of scanning electron microscopes and scientists with enough assiduity to spend decades on end peering into their atomic eyes.

— Virginia Heffernan, WIRED, 21 Mar. 2023

Definition of assiduity

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“Industry.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/industry. Accessed 4 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of industry

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