Origin: Latin suffix -al
Industrial has 6 different meanings across 1 category:
An employee in industry.
"The industrial union went on strike to demand better safety standards for all factory workers."
In plain English: An industrial is a large factory where machines make products.
"The industrial sector accounts for most of the country's manufacturing output."
Usage: Although "industrial" can technically refer to an employee in industry, this usage is rare and often considered archaic or incorrect in modern English. You should almost always use the adjective form "industrial" to describe things related to manufacturing or factories rather than using it as a noun for a worker.
Of or relating to industry, notably manufacturing.
"The city's economy shifted from agriculture to industrial production as new factories sprang up along the riverbank."
In plain English: Industrial describes things related to large-scale factories and manufacturing where machines make products instead of people doing it by hand.
"The factory is located in an industrial area outside the city."
Usage: Use "industrial" to describe things related to large-scale manufacturing, factories, or heavy machinery rather than small workshops. It correctly modifies nouns like plants, zones, or design to indicate a focus on mass production and commerce.
The word industrial comes from the French term industriel. It entered English to describe things related to industry or manufacturing.