pottery: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Neutral (used in both everyday and academic/art contexts)
Quick answer
What does “pottery” mean?
Objects made from clay that are shaped while wet and hardened by heat, such as bowls, plates, and vases.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Objects made from clay that are shaped while wet and hardened by heat, such as bowls, plates, and vases.
The art, craft, or process of making such objects; a place where such objects are made.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in core meaning or usage.
Connotations
Both varieties equally associate the term with craft, art, ceramics, and sometimes archaeology.
Frequency
Equally common in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “pottery” in a Sentence
make potterystudy potteryfire potterythrow pottery (on a wheel)work in potteryspecialise in potteryVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “pottery” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- I learnt to pottery at evening class.
- She potteries as a relaxing hobby.
American English
- I learned to pottery in college.
- He potteries in his garage studio.
adverb
British English
- This is handmade pottery, not factory-made.
American English
- She works pottery, shaping each piece individually.
adjective
British English
- The pottery workshop is on the high street.
- She attended a pottery course.
American English
- The pottery studio is downtown.
- He took a pottery class.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Refers to the industry of making and selling ceramic goods, or a specific company (e.g., 'The pottery exports its goods worldwide').
Academic
Used in archaeology, art history, and anthropology to describe artefacts and cultural practices (e.g., 'Analysis of Iron Age pottery reveals trade patterns').
Everyday
Refers to the hobby, craft objects, or a local workshop (e.g., 'She bought a lovely vase from the village pottery').
Technical
In materials science, refers to objects made from fired, non-metallic inorganic materials, often discussing properties like porosity and glaze composition.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “pottery”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “pottery”
- Using 'pottery' as a countable noun for a single object (prefer 'piece of pottery' or 'pot'). Confusing 'pottery' (general) with 'porcelain' (a specific, fine type).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is primarily an uncountable mass noun (e.g., 'She makes pottery'). It can be countable when referring to a factory/workshop ('three potteries') or, less commonly, collections of objects.
'Ceramics' is a broader scientific/technical term encompassing all fired clay objects, including advanced materials like tile or brick. 'Pottery' often implies more traditional, handcrafted, or functional vessels, but in everyday use they are frequently synonymous.
Yes, though it's less common and considered informal or jargon. It means 'to make pottery' (e.g., 'She potteries every weekend'). The more standard phrasing is 'to do/make pottery' or 'to work with clay'.
The three main types, defined by clay and firing temperature, are earthenware (porous, lower fire), stoneware (non-porous, high fire), and porcelain (non-porous, very high fire, made with specific clay).
Objects made from clay that are shaped while wet and hardened by heat, such as bowls, plates, and vases.
Pottery is usually neutral (used in both everyday and academic/art contexts) in register.
Pottery: in British English it is pronounced /ˈpɒtəri/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈpɑːtəri/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Pottery Barn rule ('You break it, you buy it')”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
POTtery comes from a POTTER, who makes POTS from clay.
Conceptual Metaphor
Pottery is shaping an identity (e.g., 'The community was pottery shaped by its history').
Practice
Quiz
What is NOT a typical meaning of 'pottery'?