Word
industrious
Phoneticsin·dus·tri·ous, stress on the second syllable
US/ˌɪnˈdəstɹiəs/
UK/ɪndˈʌstɹɪəs/
Definition
adj. working hard and being very productive. You use this to describe someone who is always busy and gets a lot done.
adj. characterised by hard work and productivity; diligent. Often used to describe a person's work ethic or a society's economic output.
Examples
“She is an industrious student who finishes all her work early.”
“The industrious workers finished the entire project ahead of schedule despite the heavy rain.”
“The region's economy has thrived for decades, driven by an industrious population that prioritises innovation and manual labor in equal measure.”
Examples
simple
“She is an industrious student who finishes all her work early.”
contextual
“The industrious workers finished the entire project ahead of schedule despite the heavy rain.”
complex
“The region's economy has thrived for decades, driven by an industrious population that prioritises innovation and manual labor in equal measure.”
Confusables
Industrial describes the systems and machinery of production, while industrious describes a person who works hard.
RememberIndustrial = Industry. Industrious = Us (people).
Real-World Examples
“These classes are often disorderly and troublesome; but it is mostly among themselves, and at any rate they have their industrious avocations, they work early and late, and work hard.” “It includes tendencies toward being industrious, self-controlled and orderly.” Etymology
From Middle French industrieux, from Late Latin industriosus (“diligent, active, industrious”), from Latin industria (“diligence, industry”); see industry.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/industrious