industrial
Noun pluralindustrials (some meanings)
Pluralindustrials (some meanings)
- 1Connected with factories and the making of goods, or made, used, or working there.
The river was dirty from years of industrial waste.
He took an industrial job at the steel plant after school.
UsageIndustrial action means workers stop or limit their work as a protest. Industrious means hard-working.
Similarmanufacturing
Note
- 2Having many factories and businesses that make things.
Germany is a very industrial country with many big factories.
The small farm town slowly became an industrial city.
Similardeveloped
Oppositeagricultural, agrarian, rural
Note
- 3Strong and tough enough to be used in a factory.
You need an industrial blender to crush ice that fast.
Dad bought an industrial vacuum to clean up the garage.
Similarheavy-duty, commercial
Oppositedomestic
- 4Belonging to a style of music with harsh, machine-like sounds, often made electronically.
Like rock or dance music mixed with the sounds of big machines.
The club plays industrial songs with heavy, pounding beats.
His favorite industrial band uses sounds from real machines.
Note
- 5A business that makes real products or helps other businesses that make them.
The town's largest employer is an industrial that builds farm machines.
Big industrials like steel makers hire thousands of workers.
Similarmanufacturer
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Less common meanings
- 6Short for industrial music. People drop the second word when it's already clear they mean music.
My brother listens to industrial when he lifts weights.
They played industrial all night at the party.
UsageSay listen to industrial, like listen to jazz.
Note
- 7
- 8A stock or bond from a company that makes goods.
He sold one industrial and bought two bank stocks instead.
Industrials went up in price after good news from the factories.
Note
- 9Short for industrial piercing. One straight bar joins two holes, usually at the top of the ear.
Her industrial hurt for a few weeks after she got it.
He cleans his industrial every morning so it heals well.
Note
- 10A worker in industry, for example in a factory.
Note
- 11A movie made for a company to use, not for movie theaters.
Showing meanings only.
Practice
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Origin
From French industriel. It can also be seen as industry plus -al.
Checked 5 Nov 2026 · 2 facts
- Industrial comes from French industriel. en.wiktionary.org
- Industrial can be analysed as industry plus -al. en.wiktionary.org