District vs Sector

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

District

Top 2,000 (common)B2noun

Sector

Top 2,000 (common)B2noun
 DistrictSector
Pronunciation🇬🇧 /["/ˈdɪstrɪkt/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈdɪstrɪkt/"]/🇬🇧 /["/ˈsektə(r)/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈsektər/"]/
MeaningA part of a city or town with specific features.A part or area of something, often used in business or economy.
ExampleThe school district holds an annual meeting to discuss budget issues.The economic sector has shown significant growth this year.
RegisterNeutralNeutral
How commonTop 2,000 (common)Top 2,000 (common)
CEFR levelB2B2
Part of speechnounnoun
Collocationsneighbouring/​neighboring, surrounding, central, create, draw, redraw, stretch, include something, offer something, authority, council, attorney, in a/​the district, within a/​the district, neighbouring/​neighboring, surrounding, central, create, draw, redraw, stretch, include something, offer something, authority, council, attorney, in a/​the district, within a/​the districtimportant, key, growing, in a/​the sector, a sector of the economy, a sector of the industry, a sector of the market, rural, urban, northern, divide something into, a sector of the city, a sector of society, a sector of the population
Antonymswhole, entiretywhole, entirety, totality
Common mistakesConfusing 'district' with 'region' - a region can be larger and not necessarily divided like a district., Using 'district' to refer to moving locations instead of areas., Saying 'the district of New York' instead of 'New York City district' when referring to specific areas.Confused with 'section' - 'sector' refers to parts of industries., Using 'sector' in informal contexts where simpler words like 'part' would fit better., Mixing up sectors, such as 'public sector' and 'private sector' without understanding their meanings.
Usage notesUse 'district' when referring to specific areas, like school districts or business districts. It's appropriate in both written and spoken contexts but might sound too formal in casual conversations.Used in discussions about economy, industry, or specific areas of expertise. Avoid using in very casual conversation.

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District

Frequently asked questions: District vs Sector

What's the difference between District and Sector?

District: A part of a city or town with specific features. Sector: A part or area of something, often used in business or economy.

Are District and Sector the same CEFR level?

District: B2, Sector: B2 on the CEFR scale.

What part of speech are District and Sector?

District: noun, Sector: noun.

Can you show an example of each?

District: The school district holds an annual meeting to discuss budget issues. Sector: The economic sector has shown significant growth this year.

Can I use District and Sector interchangeably?

Not always. District and Sector are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.

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