manufacturing

manufacturing — noun

1. the industry or business activity of creating large amounts of products, typical

1.nounB2
Definition

the industry or business activity of creating large amounts of products, typically using machines in a factory

Example

Christopher's company moved some manufacturing overseas to reduce costs.

collocation: manufacturing overseas / move manufacturing

The manufacturing sector employs nearly fifteen percent of the city's workforce.

collocation: manufacturing sector

Common collocations
  • manufacturing sector
  • manufacturing industry
  • manufacturing plant
  • manufacturing company
  • manufacturing jobs
  • manufacturing process
  • manufacturing costs
Synonyms
  • production

    broader term that covers both goods and services; 'production' can also refer to non-physical outputs like software or music

  • industry

    wider in scope, covering any economic sector including services, mining, agriculture

Grammar Patterns

the + manufacturing + sector / industry / plant / company

in + manufacturing

Usage Note

Usually uncountable. Often placed before a noun as a modifier to describe a specific part of the industry (manufacturing plant, manufacturing costs).

Common Mistakes

Manufacture is the main industry here.
Manufacturing is the main industry here.
'Manufacture' as a noun usually refers to the act of making a specific thing, not the industry as a whole.

2. the process of turning raw materials into finished products, either by hand or b

2.nounB2
Definition

the process of turning raw materials into finished products, either by hand or by using machines

Example

The manufacturing of this special cheese takes place in small mountain villages.

pattern: the manufacturing of + [product]

Sayaka learned traditional manufacturing techniques from her grandmother in Kyoto.

collocation: manufacturing techniques

Common collocations
  • manufacturing process
  • manufacturing technique
  • manufacturing method
  • manufacturing of [product]
Synonyms
  • production

    more general term that can also include intangible outputs such as data or energy

  • fabrication

    more technical; often used for metal, machinery, or industrial components, less common in everyday speech

Grammar Patterns

the + manufacturing + of + [product/material]

Usage Note

Distinguish from sense 1: this sense focuses on the physical act of turning materials into products, while sense 1 refers to the business or industry as a whole. 'The manufacturing of steel' (sense 2) vs 'the manufacturing sector' (sense 1).

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

'Manufacturing', 'production', 'industry', 'fabrication', and 'assembly' all relate to the creation of goods but differ in scope. 'Manufacturing' (sense 1) specifically refers to the large-scale business of making goods in factories — a subset of the broader 'industry', which covers all economic sectors from mining to healthcare. 'Production' is the most general term, covering both tangible goods and intangible outputs such as films or software. 'Fabrication' is narrower and more technical, typically referring to the cutting, bending, and welding of metal or machinery parts rather than full-scale product runs. 'Assembly' is the final stage of manufacturing where separate components are put together into a finished product, such as fitting seats, wheels, and engines into a car. A factory may fabricate metal frames, then assemble them with electronic parts to manufacture a finished device.

production ↗industry ↗fabricationassembly ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • manufacturing sector
  • manufacturing industry
  • manufacturing plant
  • manufacturing company
  • manufacturing process
  • manufacturing jobs
  • manufacturing costs
  • manufacturing techniques

Phrases

  • manufacturing sector
  • manufacturing industry
  • manufacturing plant

Prepositions

  • in manufacturing
  • manufacturing of [product]

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Comes from the Latin 'manus' meaning 'hand' and 'facere' meaning 'to make or do'. The word entered English through French around the 1500s, originally referring to making things by hand. Today it refers to any large-scale production of goods, whether by hand or by machine.