INDUSTRY Synonyms: 28 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'industry' distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of industry are business , commerce , trade , and traffic . While all these words mean "activity concerned with the supplying and distribution of commodities," industry applies to the producing of commodities, especially by manufacturing or processing, usually on a large scale.

Q: When might 'business' be a better fit than 'industry'?

While the synonyms business and industry are close in meaning, business may be an inclusive term but specifically designates the activities of those engaged in the purchase or sale of commodities or in related financial transactions.

Q: How do 'commerce' and 'trade' relate to one another, in the sense of 'industry'?

Both commerce and trade imply the exchange and transportation of commodities.

Q: When could 'traffic' be used to replace 'industry'?

The meanings of traffic and industry largely overlap; however, traffic applies to the operation and functioning of public carriers of goods and persons.

industry

noun

ˈin-(ˌ)də-strē

Definition of industry

as in effort

attentive and persistent effort he isn't the smartest kid in class, but he gets the best grades by determined industry

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How is the word industry distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of industry are business, commerce, trade, and traffic. While all these words mean "activity concerned with the supplying and distribution of commodities," industry applies to the producing of commodities, especially by manufacturing or processing, usually on a large scale.

When might business be a better fit than industry?

While the synonyms business and industry are close in meaning, business may be an inclusive term but specifically designates the activities of those engaged in the purchase or sale of commodities or in related financial transactions.

How do commerce and trade relate to one another, in the sense of industry?

Both commerce and trade imply the exchange and transportation of commodities.

When could traffic be used to replace industry?

The meanings of traffic and industry largely overlap; however, traffic applies to the operation and functioning of public carriers of goods and persons.

Example Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of industry Weeks of Iranian drone and missile attacks on the UAE earlier this year, the vast majority of which were intercepted, sparked tensions among locals and hammered the country's tourism and aviation industry. — Jenni Reid,emma Graham, CNBC, 19 Aug. 2026 For the United States, a successful Australian submarine industry could strengthen allied capacity in a strategically important region. — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 19 Aug. 2026 Thankfully, spyware is still very targeted at journalists, dissidents, government officials and businesses operating in certain sectors, but the net is widening, with criminals using the malware to attack businesses in finance and other industries. — Kate O'Flaherty, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2026 Tammen worked decades in the mining industry and empathizes with people like King, but does not feel a mine is worth potentially jeopardizing the watershed. — Erin Hassanzadeh, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for industry

Recent Examples of Synonyms for industry

Noun

Albeit in an uncompetitive effort, the Falcons’ 27-7 loss to the Broncos in the preseason opener Friday night offered a glimpse at a vast majority of the team’s roster.

— Daniel Flick, AJC.com, 15 Aug. 2026
General manager Omar Khan has made a concerted effort to build through the trenches on offense and defense.

— Mike DeFabo, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2026

Definition of effort

Noun

The businesses issuing 25-year warranties are changing hands on seven-year fund cycles, and consumer diligence has not caught up.

— Camden Kaminsky, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026
How Build Reroutes the Development Model Rather than trying to turn every data center into a bespoke architectural museum, Build functions as an AI-native operating partner designed to automate the heavy desktop diligence that stalls projects.

— Nia Bowers, USA Today, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of diligence

Noun

But analysts say for now, many of these humanoid robots are still mainly used for demonstrations, performances and research rather than real-world applications.

— ABC News, ABC News, 19 Aug. 2026
Scopolamine also has legitimate applications, and has been used to treat nausea and as palliative care for Parkinson’s patients.

— Mattha Busby, Rolling Stone, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of application

Noun

While the Queen Mother was very fond of this Queen Victoria tiara and wore it with relative assiduity, her daughter only wore it once in public, on an official trip to Malta in November 2005.

— Ana Serrano, Glamour, 7 Dec. 2025
These indestructible treasures have always been buried in matter, awaiting the invention of scanning electron microscopes and scientists with enough assiduity to spend decades on end peering into their atomic eyes.

— Virginia Heffernan, WIRED, 21 Mar. 2023

Definition of assiduity

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“Industry.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/industry. Accessed 21 Aug. 2026.

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