industry

noun

in·dus·try ˈin-(ˌ)də-strē

plural industries

Synonyms of industry next

: manufacturing activity as a whole

the nation's industry

: a distinct group of productive or profit-making enterprises

the banking industry

: a department or branch of a craft, art, business, or manufacture

especially : one that employs a large personnel and capital especially in manufacturing

: systematic labor especially for some useful purpose or the creation of something of value

: diligence in an employment or pursuit

especially : steady or habitual effort

: work devoted to the study of a particular subject or author

the Shakespeare industry

Choose the Right Synonym for 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.

Example Sentences

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 on the Web And, like everyone else involved in NIL, Morris has found the toughest part sometimes is just keeping up with an industry innovating almost daily. —

Zach Osterman, The Indianapolis Star, 17 May 2023 Billboard Japan launched its WIM initiative in 2022 to celebrate women in the music industry through various endeavors, including this series. —

Billboard Japan, Billboard, 17 May 2023 Researchers say adult-entertainment employees often face stigma because of the nature of their work, as well as unsafe working conditions, while struggling to achieve comparable rights to employees in other industries. —

Kelsey Ables, Washington Post, 17 May 2023 Creating Space and Celebrating Black Women in International Film, which aims to celebrate the accomplishments of pioneering Black women filmmakers and challenge the prevailing industry narratives. —

Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 17 May 2023 The company had been in the fiber and fabrics division of Union Carbide, producing padding and fibers, which at the time contained asbestos, for the car industry. —

Nina Burleigh, The New Republic, 16 May 2023 The American culinary industry had long treated European foods, particularly French cuisine, as the standard for quality. —

Taryn White, Smithsonian Magazine, 16 May 2023 The tech industry has been churning through one fad after another lately, from self-driving cars and the metaverse to NFTs and web3. —

David Ingram, NBC News, 16 May 2023 The implosion of the stablecoin Terra one year ago was the first in a series of dominoes that wiped out over $2 trillion in market cap and much of the crypto industry’s reputation. —

Jeff John Roberts, Fortune Crypto, 16 May 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'industry.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler

The first known use of industry was in the 15th century

See more words from the same century