/ ˈɪndəstri; NAmE / noun ( pl. -ies )
1.
[ U ] the production of goods from raw materials, especially in factories :
heavy / light industry
the needs of British industry
She got a job in industry .
2.
[ C ] the people and activities involved in producing a particular thing, or in providing a particular service :
the steel industry
the catering / tourist, etc. industry
We need to develop local industries.
( figurative )
the Madonna industry (= the large number of people involved in making Madonna successful)
—see also captain of industry , cottage industry , heavy industry , sunrise industry , sunset industry
3.
[ U ] ( formal ) the quality of working hard :
We were impressed by their industry.
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English (in sense 3): from French industrie or Latin industria diligence.