service industry: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, academic, business, journalistic
Quick answer
What does “service industry” mean?
An economic sector that provides intangible products (services) rather than tangible goods, focused on human interaction and skill.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An economic sector that provides intangible products (services) rather than tangible goods, focused on human interaction and skill.
A broad economic category encompassing businesses that provide value through activities like consulting, hospitality, banking, healthcare, education, and entertainment, rather than through manufacturing or extracting resources.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. 'Tertiary sector' is the more formal, academic equivalent in both varieties.
Connotations
In both varieties, it is a neutral, descriptive economic term. In public discourse, it may carry connotations of modern, post-industrial economies versus older manufacturing-based ones.
Frequency
Equally common and standard in both UK and US economic, business, and political contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “service industry” in a Sentence
The [country]'s economy is dominated by its [adjective] service industry.A shift from manufacturing to [the] service industry has occurred.Employment in [the] service industry requires strong interpersonal skills.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “service industry” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The economy was service-industry led.
- The region has been service-industry focused for decades.
American English
- The economy is service-industry driven.
- We need to service-industry enable our workforce.
adverb
British English
- The economy developed service-industry heavily.
- The town is shifting service-industry wards.
American English
- The employment base is changing service-industry rapidly.
- The economy is oriented service-industry strongly.
adjective
British English
- The service-industry growth was remarkable.
- She has a service-industry background in consultancy.
American English
- Service-industry jobs are on the rise.
- The city's service-industry expansion is a key policy goal.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Analyzing market trends, we see significant growth potential in the digital service industry.
Academic
Clark's model of structural change posits a sequential transition from agriculture to manufacturing to service industries.
Everyday
Most of my friends work in some kind of service industry, like retail or banking.
Technical
The input-output table shows a high multiplier effect for the domestic service industry.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “service industry”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “service industry”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “service industry”
- Using 'service industry' as a countable noun for a single company (e.g., 'Tesla is a service industry') – it refers to a sector, not a firm.
- Misspelling as 'service-industry' (as a hyphenated compound) in running text; it's typically two separate words.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. 'Customer service' is a function within a company (how it assists its clients). 'Service industry' is the entire economic sector to which that company might belong (e.g., retail, telecoms).
No. A company is 'in the service industry' or is 'a service industry company'. The term refers to the collective sector, not an individual entity.
They are synonyms in economics. 'Tertiary sector' is the formal academic term (following primary and secondary), while 'service industry/industries' is more common in general business and media language.
In an economic context, yes, if they are provided commercially (e.g., a plumber, a lawyer). Free services (e.g., volunteer work) or internal services within a manufacturing firm are part of the economy but not classified as the 'service industry' in sectoral analysis.
An economic sector that provides intangible products (services) rather than tangible goods, focused on human interaction and skill.
Service industry is usually formal, academic, business, journalistic in register.
Service industry: in British English it is pronounced /ˈsɜːvɪs ˌɪndəstri/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈsɝːvɪs ˌɪndəstri/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “The backbone of the modern economy (often refers to the service industry)”
- “A post-industrial economy (heavily reliant on service industries)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think SERVE-ICE: you SERVE people, often with a smile (the ICE-breaker), instead of making ICE (a physical product). It's an industry of serving.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE ECONOMY IS A BODY (with the service industry as the circulatory or nervous system, facilitating and coordinating), KNOWLEDGE/EXPERIENCE IS A PRODUCT (core of many services).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is NOT typically considered part of the service industry?