primary industry: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Academic, Economic, Technical, Business
Quick answer
What does “primary industry” mean?
An industry that involves the extraction and production of raw materials and natural resources directly from the earth or water.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An industry that involves the extraction and production of raw materials and natural resources directly from the earth or water.
The economic sector that provides the basic materials for all other economic activity, forming the foundation of the industrial supply chain. In some contexts, it can be used more abstractly to denote the most fundamental or first-order type of activity in a given field.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in definition or core usage. The term is equally standard in both economic and geographical discourse.
Connotations
In both varieties, it often carries connotations of being foundational, traditional, and sometimes less technologically advanced or less economically developed compared to other sectors.
Frequency
Equally common in UK and US academic and business English. Slightly more frequent in UK geographical and A-level syllabi.
Grammar
How to Use “primary industry” in a Sentence
(country/region) + has/had + primary industry(economy) + is/was + based on primary industryto move/evolve from primary industry to...the importance/role of primary industry + in...Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “primary industry” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The region's economy primary-industries in fishing and forestry.
- We need to primary-industry our resources more sustainably.
American English
- The state's economy is heavily primary-industried in mining.
- They are looking to primary-industry the shale gas deposits.
adverb
British English
- The economy is primarily-industry based.
- They focused primary-industry on resource extraction.
American English
- The nation developed primary-industry, before moving to manufacturing.
- Investors are looking primary-industry at mining prospects.
adjective
British English
- The primary-industry sector faces unique challenges.
- Primary-industry employment has declined steadily.
American English
- Primary-industry jobs are often located in rural areas.
- The report analyzed primary-industry output.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in reports on national economies, investment analysis, and market research focusing on commodities.
Academic
Core term in economics, geography, and development studies for classifying economic activities.
Everyday
Rare in casual conversation; might appear in news reports about a region's economy or employment.
Technical
Precise term in economic classification systems (e.g., ISIC, NACE).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “primary industry”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “primary industry”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “primary industry”
- Using it as a countable noun plural ('many primary industries') when referring to the general sector is less common.
- Confusing it with 'manufacturing industry'.
- Misspelling as 'primery industry'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, tourism is classified as a tertiary or service industry. Primary industry involves extracting raw materials (like mining, farming), while tourism provides services to people.
Agriculture is one specific type of primary industry. 'Primary industry' is the broader category that also includes mining, fishing, forestry, and quarrying.
Yes. Even highly developed countries like Canada, Australia, and Norway have significant primary industries (e.g., mining, oil, forestry). The key difference is often that developed countries have a more diversified economy alongside it.
It provides the essential raw materials (food, metals, energy, timber) that all other economic activities (manufacturing, construction, services) depend on. Without it, no other sector could function.
An industry that involves the extraction and production of raw materials and natural resources directly from the earth or water.
Primary industry is usually academic, economic, technical, business in register.
Primary industry: in British English it is pronounced /ˌpraɪməri ˈɪndəstri/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌpraɪmeri ˈɪndəstri/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “the primary industry backbone of the economy”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: Primary = First. Primary Industry is the FIRST step in the chain – getting raw materials FIRST from the earth.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE ECONOMY AS A CHAIN (the first link), THE ECONOMY AS A TREE (the roots that support everything else).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is NOT an example of a primary industry?