Industry vs Sector

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

Industry

Top 2,000 (common) A2 noun

Sector

Top 2,000 (common) B2 noun

	Industry	Sector
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 /["/ˈɪndəstri/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/ˈɪndəstri/"]/	🇬🇧 /["/ˈsektə(r)/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/ˈsektər/"]/
Meaning	A specific area of business or work.	A part or area of something, often used in business or economy.
Example	The technology industry is rapidly evolving with new innovations.	The economic sector has shown significant growth this year.
Register	Neutral	Neutral
How common	Top 2,000 (common)	Top 2,000 (common)
CEFR level	A2	B2
Part of speech	noun	noun
Collocations	booming, growing, thriving, benefit, develop, encourage, boom, develop, expand, executive, leader, expert, in industry, within industry, a captain of industry, commerce and industry, regulation of (an) industry, booming, growing, thriving, benefit, develop, encourage, boom, develop, expand, executive, leader, expert, in industry, within industry, a captain of industry, commerce and industry, regulation of (an) industry	important, 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
Antonyms	amateur, hobby	whole, entirety, totality
Common mistakes	Confusing 'industry' with 'sector' in informal contexts., Using 'industries' in singular contexts., Mispronouncing it as 'in-dust-ry' instead of 'in-duh-stree'.	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 notes	Use 'industry' in contexts related to business and economics. Avoid using it informally. It is appropriate in both written and spoken language when discussing markets or sectors.	Used in discussions about economy, industry, or specific areas of expertise. Avoid using in very casual conversation.

See it in real clips

Bayou La Batre's entire shrimping industry

Chernobyl › S1 E1

Second, because the efforts of the Soviet nuclear industry

Top Gear › S1 E1

Because, most work in our industry is done in Soho,

Bayou La Batre's entire shrimping industry

Chernobyl › S1 E1

Second, because the efforts of the Soviet nuclear industry

Industry

Frequently asked questions: Industry vs Sector

What's the difference between Industry and Sector?

Industry: A specific area of business or work. Sector: A part or area of something, often used in business or economy.

Which is more advanced: Industry and Sector?

Sector is the highest level, at B2, on the CEFR scale.

Are Industry and Sector the same CEFR level?

Industry: A2, Sector: B2 on the CEFR scale.

What part of speech are Industry and Sector?

Industry: noun, Sector: noun.

Can you show an example of each?

Industry: The technology industry is rapidly evolving with new innovations. Sector: The economic sector has shown significant growth this year.

Can I use Industry and Sector interchangeably?

Not always. Industry 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.