pottery

noun

pot·​tery ˈpä-tə-rē How to pronounce pottery (audio)
plural potteries
Synonyms of potterynext
1
: a place where clayware is made and fired
2
a
: the art or craft of the potter
b
: the manufacture of clayware
3
: clayware
especially : earthenware as distinguished from porcelain and stoneware and from brick and tile

Synonyms of pottery

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Examples of pottery in a Sentence

He has collected pottery for years. She was a painter for years before she discovered pottery.
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.
Nearby, pottery wheels spin and campers record songs in the recording studio. — Rachel Hale, USA Today, 4 Aug. 2026 In Kanab, Utah, the Moqui Cave museum showcases a massive collection of Native American artifacts, including pottery and arrowheads. — Cu Fleshman, Travel + Leisure, 3 Aug. 2026 In the 1770s, Josiah Wedgwood transformed pottery from a local craft into one of the first modern consumer brands. — Steve Denning, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026 The two figures, dressed in Delft blue and white costumes and each clutching a tulip, leaned toward one another for a kiss, in the style of pottery figurines that are a staple of tourist souvenir stores throughout the Netherlands. — ABC News, 1 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for pottery

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of pottery was in the 15th century

Rhymes for pottery

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Browse Nearby Words

potter wasp
pottery
pottery-bark tree
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Cite this Entry

“Pottery.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pottery. Accessed 7 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

pottery

noun
pot·​tery ˈpät-ə-rē How to pronounce pottery (audio)
plural potteries
1
: a place where clay articles (as pots and vases) are made
2
: the art of the potter : ceramics
3
: articles made from clay that is shaped while moist and hardened by heat

More from Merriam-Webster on pottery

Nglish: Translation of pottery for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about pottery

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