# foundry

/ˈfaʊndɹi/ (US) · /fˈaʊndɹi/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/foundry
Updated: 2026-05-06

## Definition

a factory where people melt metal and pour it into special shapes. You use this word when talking about making things like car parts or heavy tools.

For teachers: an industrial establishment where metal is melted and cast into specific shapes using moulds.

## Examples

- The local foundry produces heavy iron pipes for the city.
- After the metal is heated to a liquid state in the furnace, workers at the foundry pour it into sand moulds.
- The decline of the local foundry had a devastating effect on the town's economy, as generations of families had relied on the casting industry for their livelihoods.

## Usage notes

- Often used as a modifier in compound nouns like 'iron foundry' or 'brass foundry'.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.
