industrial revolution

noun

: a rapid major change in an economy (as in England in the late 18th century) marked by the general introduction of power-driven machinery or by an important change in the prevailing types and methods of use of such machines

Examples of industrial revolution in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The industrial revolution took place over almost a hundred years, give or take several decades. IEEE Spectrum, 23 June 2014 In small part, the industrial revolution systemized agriculture out of family farms, but more importantly, technology made managing the rest of the home easier. Tiana Lowe Doescher, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 29 Nov. 2024 As an industrial revolution took root in American society in the decades that followed, tariffs remained a cornerstone of U.S. economic policy. Erik Guzik / The Conversation, Quartz, 4 Nov. 2024 Remarkably, thirty-seven years ago Exxon accurately predicted that by 2019, the earth would hit a carbon dioxide concentration of 415 ppm and a temperature increase of almost 1C degree since the industrial revolution. Ian Dexter Palmer, Forbes, 15 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for industrial revolution 

Word History

First Known Use

1840, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of industrial revolution was in 1840

Dictionary Entries Near industrial revolution

Cite this Entry

“Industrial revolution.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/industrial%20revolution. Accessed 24 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

industrial revolution

noun
: a rapid major change in an economy (as in England in the late 18th century) marked by the general introduction of power-driven machinery

More from Merriam-Webster on industrial revolution

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!