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 Drawing on years of experience in the restaurant industry, Rivers launched Bird Run in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. — Sam Flemming, AJC.com, 15 July 2026 Hydrating, evening out skin tone, and leaving dewiness in its wake, The Mineral Sunscreen is capable of replacing your anti-aging serums and moisturizers — practically unheard of in the industry. — Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 14 July 2026 There are around 260,000 to 330,000 potential workers in the industry at present but only just over half are in work, according to ScreenSkills, a figure that has declined since 2022. — Max Goldbart, Deadline, 14 July 2026 Many chambers of commerce and businesses that want to lure customers later in the day generally support it, while agricultural interests and some industries oppose it. — Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 14 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for industry

Recent Examples of Synonyms for industry

Noun

The totality of Clark’s effort made White react more like a fan than a coach.

— James Boyd, New York Times, 18 July 2026
Smaller nonprofit efforts — often faith-based — can also offer a soft landing place, but few exist.

— Amber Gaudet July 18, Charlotte Observer, 18 July 2026

Definition of effort

Noun

What Enterprises Should Do Now For a technology buyer, the practical move is to treat the agent gateway as a diligence checklist rather than a purchase.

— Janakiram MSV, Forbes.com, 6 July 2026
This post-interview diligence is particularly important in today’s tough job market for entry-level workers, according to Hendler-Grunt.

— Sarah Jackson, CNBC, 1 July 2026

Definition of diligence

Noun

Mayo Clinic is now running a clinical trial to test whether AI can help identify patients at risk of or with early-stage pancreatic cancer — an application the hospital has said could detect the disease years earlier than the typical diagnosis.

— Clare Duffy, CNN Money, 16 July 2026
In one instance, there was a 488% increase in applications for test drives on the day of the stream, Moutran told Semafor.

— Manal Albarakati, semafor.com, 15 July 2026

Definition of application

Noun

Analysts said the persistence of such underlying weakness also raises the question of whether Chinese officials will turn to more fiscal stimulus to try and boost domestic spending.

— Stephanie Yang, CNN Money, 15 July 2026
This book shows the importance of persistence when refining a skill and remaining true to oneself.

— Brooke Harris Garad, The Conversation, 14 July 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 19 Jul. 2026.

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