industry

play

noun in·dus·try \ˈin-(ˌ)də-strē\

Definition of industry

plural

industries

1 : diligence in an employment or pursuit; especially : steady or habitual effort
2a : systematic labor especially for some useful purpose or the creation of something of valueb : a department or branch of a craft, art, business, or manufacture; especially : one that employs a large personnel and capital especially in manufacturingc : a distinct group of productive or profit-making enterprises the banking industryd : manufacturing activity as a whole the nation's industry
3 : work devoted to the study of a particular subject or author the Shakespeare industry

See industry defined for English-language learners

See industry defined for kids

Examples of industry in a Sentence

He favors policies that promote industry.
She invested in several large industries.
She became so popular that a whole industry grew up around her and her image.

Recent Examples of industry from the Web

Liz Swearingin, who has worked in the steel and aerospace industry but also served as county manager in Lewis County, New York.

— scott wartman, Cincinnati.com, "NKY Notebook: Lawmaker renews effort to get rid of constables", 6 July 2017
Vandermeyden and her former Tesla colleagues join a growing number of women in Silicon Valley speaking out about the industry’s rampant sexism and harassment issues.

— madison malone kircher, The Cut, "Female Tesla Employee Calls Factory a ‘Predator Zone’", 6 July 2017
By the early 1990s, with scant evidence to support it, a global UFO and extraterrestrial industry had come into existence.

— donovan webster, Smithsonian, "In 1947, A High-Altitude Balloon Crash Landed in Roswell. The Aliens Never Left", 6 July 2017
The finance industry, which contributes 7% of GDP, is in danger of decamping.

— The Economist, "A spat about seafood shows the compromises that Brexit will force", 5 July 2017
The formation of GRIT was also influenced by the city’s ongoing tech initiative, which was established last year as a way to foster and promote Glendale’s status in the tech industry.

— jeff landa, Glendale News-Press, "New Glendale team will take proactive stance on business development", 5 July 2017
In fact, an entire industry of eldercare lawyers and accountants exists to help the middle-class elderly shield their assets so that Medicaid can pick up the tab for their long-term care.

— michael tanner, National Review, "The Uninspiring Medicaid Debate", 5 July 2017
Retiring in 1982, Palmore represented the coal industry in an unsuccessful challenge to a constitutional amendment that had thrown out the broad form deed.

— andrew wolfson, The Courier-Journal, "John S. Palmore, former Ky. chief justice and legal icon, dies at 99", 4 July 2017
An event producer, industry veteran Yaron Lavi, was hired and began work March 6.

— bryan burrough, The Hive, "Fyre Festival: Anatomy of a Millennial Marketing Fiasco Waiting to Happen", 4 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'industry'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of industry

Middle English (Scots) industrie, from Middle French, from Latin industria, from industrius diligent, from Old Latin indostruus, perhaps from indu in + -struus (akin to Latin struere to build) — more at end-, strew

NEW!

First Known Use: 15th century

See Words from the same year

Synonym Discussion of industry

business, commerce, trade, industry, traffic mean activity concerned with the supplying and distribution of commodities. 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. commerce and trade imply the exchange and transportation of commodities. industry applies to the producing of commodities, especially by manufacturing or processing, usually on a large scale. traffic applies to the operation and functioning of public carriers of goods and persons.

Other Business Terms

amortize, caveat emptor, clearinghouse, divest, due diligence, emolument, green-collar, marque, overhead, perquisite

INDUSTRY Defined for English Language Learners

industry

play

noun

Definition of industry for English Language Learners

: the process of making products by using machinery and factories
: a group of businesses that provide a particular product or service
: the habit of working hard and steadily

INDUSTRY Defined for Kids

industry

play

noun in·dus·try \ˈin-də-strē\

Definition of industry for Students

plural

industries

1 : businesses that provide a certain product or service the oil industry the shipping industry
2 : manufacturing activity In May, industry slowed down.
3 : the habit of working hard and steadily Rab did not immediately spring into action to make a good show of his industry before his master. — Esther Forbes, Johnny Tremain