cottage industry
noun
1
: an industry whose labor force consists of family units or individuals working at home with their own equipment
2
: a small and often informally organized industry
3
: a limited but enthusiastically pursued activity or subject
this debate about sex and law became a cottage industry for feminist academics—
Wendy Kaminer
Wendy KaminerExamples of cottage industry in a Sentence
weaving, pottery, and other cottage industries
Recent Examples on the Web
Local Law 97, which mandates emissions reductions from our largest source of carbon dioxide, our buildings, is creating a cottage industry of consultants and builders to help.
—Jeff Roth, New York Daily News, 23 Apr. 2025
But some cottage industry hiking companies got hold of the fabric and started making fleece hoodies using just Alpha Direct.
—Scott Gilbertson, Wired News, 18 Apr. 2025
By far Apple's biggest streaming hit, the show has generated a sizable viewership as well as a cottage industry of internet sleuthing and memes.
—Saba Hamedy, NBC news, 21 Mar. 2025
The full 90-minute YouTube version crossed a million views in just a few days, with its reach further elevated by clips flying across social media and a cottage industry of response videos generated in its wake.
—Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 13 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cottage industry
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Jeff Roth, New York Daily News, 23 Apr. 2025
But some cottage industry hiking companies got hold of the fabric and started making fleece hoodies using just Alpha Direct.
—Scott Gilbertson, Wired News, 18 Apr. 2025
By far Apple's biggest streaming hit, the show has generated a sizable viewership as well as a cottage industry of internet sleuthing and memes.
—Saba Hamedy, NBC news, 21 Mar. 2025
The full 90-minute YouTube version crossed a million views in just a few days, with its reach further elevated by clips flying across social media and a cottage industry of response videos generated in its wake.
—Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 13 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cottage industry
Cite this Entry
“Cottage industry.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cottage%20industry. Accessed 7 May. 2025.
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