sec ‧ tor W1 AC /ˈsektə $ -ər/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[ Date: 1500-1600 ; Language: Latin ; Origin: secare ; ⇨ ↑ section 1 ]
1 . a part of an area of activity, especially of business, trade etc
sector of
the agricultural sector of the economy
public/private sector (=business controlled by the government or by private companies)
2 . one of the parts into which an area is divided, especially for military purposes
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ adjectives
▪ an economic sector (=one part of the economy)
The country is making efforts to expand such economic sectors as tourism and information technology.
▪ the agricultural/manufacturing/industrial sector (=the part of the economy to do with growing food/producing goods)
As the industrial sector grew, more and more of the population moved to the cities.
▪ the service sector (=the part of the economy to do with providing services, such as banking or tourism)
The proportion of service sector jobs within the economy has grown.
▪ the financial/banking sector (=the part of the economy to do with money and finance)
The UK financial sector is looking healthier than ever.
▪ the public sector (=businesses controlled by the government)
The government has been holding down pay in the public sector.
▪ the private sector (=businesses that the government does not control)
Generally speaking, employees in the private sector are well rewarded.
▪ the voluntary sector (=people doing socially useful work for no money)
The voluntary sector has an important role in tackling urban deprivation.
▪ an important sector
Sport is now recognized as an important sector of economic activity.
▪ a key sector (=a very important one)
They identified cars and electronics as key sectors in the economy.
▪ the rented sector (=homes that people can rent)
We have lost 2 million homes from the rented sector.