# industry

/ˈɪndəstɹi/ (US) · /ˈɪndʌstɹˌi/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/industry
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. manufacturing and production

noun · CEFR A2

the companies and factories that make things, especially in large amounts.

For teachers: the sector of an economy concerned with the large-scale production of goods, typically in factories.

- The city grew quickly because of the steel industry and the new jobs it created.
- Heavy industry declined in the region during the late twentieth century, leading to a significant shift toward service-oriented economic models.

### 2. a specific branch of business

noun · CEFR B1

a particular group of businesses that provide the same service or product.

For teachers: a distinct group of productive or profit-making enterprises.

- She has worked in the fashion industry for over ten years.
- The hospitality industry faced unprecedented challenges during the global travel restrictions, forcing many small businesses to pivot their operations.

### 3. hard work

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

the quality of working hard and being productive.

For teachers: the quality of being habitually active, diligent, and hardworking.

- The teacher praised the student for her industry and focus during the project.
- The success of the startup was attributed more to the sheer industry of its founders than to any initial financial advantage.

### 4. stone tool classification

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a group of stone tools from a specific time in history.

For teachers: a classification of stone tools belonging to a specific period or culture.

- Archaeologists found evidence of a prehistoric flint industry at the site.
- The discovery of a sophisticated bone-tool industry suggests that the inhabitants possessed more advanced cognitive abilities than previously assumed.

## Examples

- The tourism industry is growing fast in this city.
- New regulations were introduced to reduce the amount of pollution created by heavy industry.
- While the tech industry dominates the local economy, the traditional manufacturing sector remains a vital source of employment for the region's aging workforce.

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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.