English Reference
Noun

shipbuilding

n. uncountable
B2 Upper Intermediate US /ˈʃɪpˌbɪɫdɪŋ/ UK /ʃˈɪpbɪldɪŋ/ ship·build·ing Nautical

n.the business or activity of designing and building large ships.

n.the craft, industry, or occupation of constructing ships and other large vessels. Often refers to the industrial-scale manufacturing of maritime transport.


SIMPLE

The city is famous for its long history of shipbuilding.

CONTEXTUAL

The government provided subsidies to the shipbuilding industry to help it compete with international manufacturers.

COMPLEX

Advances in steel production and steam propulsion during the nineteenth century fundamentally transformed shipbuilding from a traditional craft into a massive industrial enterprise.

Yet until the mid-20th century, researchers paid relatively little attention to the non-wood materials used in ancient shipbuilding.

ScienceDaily· 21 Aug 2026

Around 1760, Barry immigrated to Philadelphia, where he pursued a career in shipbuilding and sailing.

Smithsonian Magazine· 1 Jul 2026

From ship + building.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated