sector
B1Formal, Academic, Business, Technical
Definition
Meaning
A distinct part or area of something, often defined by economic activity, function, or geometric shape.
Can refer to a designated military zone, a subdivision of a track on a computer disk, or a group within a larger entity sharing common characteristics.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word often implies systematic division and classification. It moves between concrete (geometric shape) and abstract (economic sphere) domains.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. The word is used identically in both varieties.
Connotations
Neutral in both. Connotations depend entirely on the specific context (e.g., 'public sector' vs. 'private sector').
Frequency
Equally high frequency in business, economics, and technical contexts in both regions.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
in the X sectorsector of the economysector of the marketthe X-sector companyVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Squeaky clean (not related to sector; 'sector' has no common idioms)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to distinct parts of the economy, e.g., 'The retail sector saw significant growth last quarter.'
Academic
Used in economics, sociology, and geometry to denote classified parts of a system or shape.
Everyday
Less common; might be used in news discussions about the economy or jobs.
Technical
In computing, a subdivision of a disk track; in geometry, a part of a circle enclosed by two radii.
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- sector-wide agreement
- multi-sector partnership
American English
- sector-specific regulations
- cross-sector collaboration
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My father works in the service sector.
- The teacher drew a sector of a circle on the board.
- The government is investing in the technology sector.
- Which sector of the economy do you work in?
- Employment growth has been uneven across different industrial sectors.
- The proposal aims to foster innovation in the agricultural sector.
- The volatility in the financial sector precipitated a wider economic crisis.
- Charities form a crucial part of what is often termed the third sector.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a circle cut like a PIZZA. Each SLICE is a SECTOR – a distinct part of the whole.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE ECONOMY / SOCIETY IS A DIVIDED SPACE (with sectors as areas or territories).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid confusing with 'сектор' only in its geometrical/military sense. The English word is used much more broadly for economic/ social divisions (like 'отрасль', 'сфера').
- Do not translate 'public sector' as 'публичный сектор'; it's 'государственный сектор'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'sector' for very small, informal groups (e.g., 'the gaming sector of our friend group').
- Confusing 'sector' with 'section' in non-systemic contexts (e.g., 'a sector of the newspaper' is less idiomatic than 'a section').
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'sector' LEAST likely to be used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Industry' typically refers to a specific branch of manufacture or trade (e.g., the automobile industry). 'Sector' is a broader, more classificatory term that groups industries (e.g., the manufacturing sector includes many different industries).
No, 'sector' is not used as a standard verb in contemporary English. The related verb is 'sectorize' or 'divide into sectors'.
It is neutral but common in formal, business, and academic registers. It is less frequent in casual, everyday conversation.
The 'third sector' refers to organizations that are neither public (government) nor private (for-profit) sector, such as charities, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and cooperatives.