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
This designer cottage industry may be the truest indication of the toy’s success.
—Justin Fenner, Robb Report, 17 June 2025
Since January, a cottage industry has arisen online to trace links between the government’s chaotic blitz of actions and Yarvin’s writings.
—Ava Kofman, New Yorker, 2 June 2025
The tax break sparked a cottage industry of scrupulous companies pushing the tax break to small businesses that didn’t qualify.
—Kate Dore, Cfp®, Ea, CNBC, 20 May 2025
There's a cottage industry of Etsy sellers printing on them, with buyers like me presumably searching specifically for the brand.
—Martin Cizmar, WIRED, 8 Mar. 2025
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Justin Fenner, Robb Report, 17 June 2025
Since January, a cottage industry has arisen online to trace links between the government’s chaotic blitz of actions and Yarvin’s writings.
—Ava Kofman, New Yorker, 2 June 2025
The tax break sparked a cottage industry of scrupulous companies pushing the tax break to small businesses that didn’t qualify.
—Kate Dore, Cfp®, Ea, CNBC, 20 May 2025
There's a cottage industry of Etsy sellers printing on them, with buyers like me presumably searching specifically for the brand.
—Martin Cizmar, WIRED, 8 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 4 Jul. 2025.
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