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

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The first broad generation of American economists, of the Gilded Age, were nebbish cloistered bookworms who missed out on being a doer in the greatest era of being a doer, the industrial revolution. Brian Domitrovic, Forbes, 11 Jan. 2025 But whereas those European experiences of urbanization were part of an industrial revolution that saw growth accelerate dramatically, the more recent urbanization of what used to be called the Third World has occurred in places where economic growth is either low, slowing down, or nonexistent. Richard Beck, Harper's Magazine, 2 Dec. 2024 The other is the worry that a new industrial revolution will allow machines to disrupt and replace humans in every—or almost every—area of society, from transport to the military to healthcare. Nicholas Wright, Foreign Affairs, 10 July 2018 The industrial revolution literally reshaped America’s kitchens. Melvin Backman, Quartz, 19 Dec. 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 15 Jan. 2025.

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

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