industry

noun

in·​dus·​try ˈin-(ˌ)də-strē How to pronounce industry (audio)
plural industries
1
a
: manufacturing activity as a whole
the nation's industry
b
: a distinct group of productive or profit-making enterprises
the banking industry
c
: a department or branch of a craft, art, business, or manufacture
especially : one that employs a large personnel and capital especially in manufacturing
d
: systematic labor especially for some useful purpose or the creation of something of value
2
: diligence in an employment or pursuit
especially : steady or habitual effort
3
: 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.

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 on the Web And his ugly behavior is even more troubling because of the fact that Musk is enormously influential, casting a large shadow across multiple industries and doing billions of dollars’ worth of national security business with the US government. Oliver Darcy, CNN, 19 Mar. 2024 But Nasser, as well as pushing for efficiencies to improve affordability in his own industry, also fired a shot at other energy types and parallel products. Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 19 Mar. 2024 The Alliance for Auto Innovation, a large industry trade group, said in a news release that the ramp up to 67% initially proposed by the EPA is too fast for the industry to achieve. Tom Krisher and Matthew Daly, Quartz, 19 Mar. 2024 At the time, there was blowback from many country fans on social media about her appearance, along with reports of some in the industry displeased that prominent a spot was devoted to a pop artist. Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 19 Mar. 2024 Navigating these new realities is an important part for the industry to future-proof itself in the competitive realm of ultra-luxury products. Kevin Koenig, Robb Report, 19 Mar. 2024 Porter lamented in the podcast that her views of currency exchanges and blockchain technologies weren’t discussed more openly even as these groups perceived her as skeptical of the industry. Benjamin Oreskes, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2024 The financial pressures of the toy industry forced Chung to be parsimonious. Patrick House, The New Yorker, 19 Mar. 2024 The battle for auto industry supremacy is just one element of a worsening trade climate between China and its major customers in Europe and the United States. David J. Lynch, Washington Post, 18 Mar. 2024

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

Dictionary Entries Near industry

Cite this Entry

“Industry.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/industry. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

industry

noun
in·​dus·​try ˈin-(ˌ)dəs-trē How to pronounce industry (audio)
plural industries
1
: the habit of working hard and steadily : diligence
2
: steady labor
lived by their own industry
3
a
: the businesses that provide a particular product or service
the steel industry
the tourist industry
b
: manufacturing activity
commerce and industry

More from Merriam-Webster on industry

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