cottage industry

noun

1
: an industry whose labor force consists of family units or individuals working at home with their own equipment
2
: a small and often informally organized industry
3
: a limited but enthusiastically pursued activity or subject
… this debate about sex and law became a cottage industry for feminist academics …—Wendy Kaminer

Examples of cottage industry in a Sentence

weaving, pottery, and other cottage industries
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The search for megalodon teeth has become a cottage industry in eastern North and South Carolina, a region that was once the floor of an ancient ocean. — Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 16 Aug. 2026 Getty Images There is a cottage industry devoted to predicting the imminent death of the American consumer, and business has never been better. — Nigel Morris, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026 While not as flashy as some of Netflix’s marquee franchises as Bridgerton or Stranger Things, the adaptations of his bestselling thrillers have become a cottage industry, delivering high volume and solid return on investment. — Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 28 July 2026 The unsolved case has become a source of endless fascination in Britain and beyond, and a cottage industry for the media. — Amelie Claydon, New York Times, 24 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for cottage industry

Word History

First Known Use

1849, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of cottage industry was in 1849

Rhymes for cottage industry

See All Rhymes for cottage industry

Browse Nearby Words

cottage hospital
cottage industry
cottage lily
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Cite this Entry

“Cottage industry.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cottage%20industry. Accessed 21 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on cottage industry

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about cottage industry

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