Etymology
From Middle English industry, industrie, from Old French industrie, from Latin industria (diligence, activity, industry), from industrius (diligent, active, zealous), from Old Latin indostruus (diligent, active); origin unknown. Perhaps from indu (in) + ūst-, ūstr-, stem of ūrŠ(burn, burn up, consume), verb, related to Old High German ūstrī (industry), Old English andūstrian (to hate, detest, literally to be consumed with zeal).
Noun
industry (countable and uncountable, plural industries)
- (uncountable) The tendency to work persistently. Diligence.
- Over the years, their industry and business sense made them wealthy.
- (countable, business, economics) Businesses of the same type, considered as a whole. Trade.
- (uncountable, economics) Businesses that produce goods as opposed to services.
- (in the singular, economics) The sector of the economy consisting of large-scale enterprises.
- There used to be a lot of industry around here, but now the economy depends on tourism.
Derived terms
- automotive industry
- cottage industry
- film industry
- finance industry
- food services industry
- health care industry
- heavy industry
- service industry
- software industry
Related terms
- industrial
- industrious
Credits
New World Encyclopedia writers and editors copied and adjusted this Wiktionary entry in accordance with NWE standards. This article abides by terms of the Creative Commons CC-by-sa 3.0 License (CC-by-sa), which may be used and disseminated with proper attribution. Credit for this article is due to both New World Encyclopedia contributors and the selfless volunteer contributors of the Wikimedia Foundation. To cite this article click here for a list acceptable citing formats.The history of earlier contributions at Wiktionary is accessible to researchers here:
