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 next

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 Other examples include the Department of Justice's lawsuit against RealPage, which has been accused of helping landlords drive up rent prices, and the DOJ's lawsuit against Agri Stats, a data-sharing company accused of helping the meatpacking industry inflate grocery prices. —

ABC News, 24 June 2026 This addresses a major concern in the industry as grid-scale storage projects expand around the world. —

Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 24 June 2026 There will be a survey and a series of industry discussions that will culminate in a public presentation and a report. —

Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 24 June 2026 Experts want basic industry-wide quality rules. —

Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for industry

Recent Examples of Synonyms for industry

Noun

A bit of a surprise here, as the Warriors were reportedly shopping the 11th pick in an effort to bolster their roster with a win-now player.

— Rohan Nadkarni, NBC news, 24 June 2026
The search stems from a years-long effort by authorities to revisit information connected to Mansfield, whose family lived on Centerwood Avenue in Hernando County.

— Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 24 June 2026

Definition of effort

Noun

The Big East will cast a wide net to find someone with a vision, and Ackerman-level resourcefulness and industriousness by next fall.

— Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 21 Apr. 2026
This culture emphasizes individual responsibility, industriousness, respect for the rule of law, the dignity of conscience, and the limits of liberty rightly understood.

— MSNBC Newsweek, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Nov. 2025

Definition of industriousness

Noun

Toe spacers make polish application much easier and cut down on smudging while layers dry.

— Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 26 June 2026
After the application process is completed, the ambassadors are provided access to an online portal, where presentations and activities created by the medical advisory board are shared.

— Sydney Haywood, Hartford Courant, 25 June 2026

Definition of application

Noun

In a business built on people, persistence, and long-term thinking, investors who adopt an entrepreneurial mindset can position themselves to uncover opportunities, create value, and build lasting success even in the most competitive markets.

— James Nelson, Forbes.com, 19 June 2026
Mighty Mary is a rousing story of courage, teamwork and persistence, revealing how one bold act can ripple outward to shift culture, expand possibility and open doors for generations to come.

— Brent Lang, Variety, 17 June 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