pottery

noun

pot·​tery ˈpä-tə-rē 

plural potteries

1

: a place where clayware is made and fired

2

a

: the art or craft of the potter

b

: the manufacture of clayware

3

: clayware

especially : earthenware as distinguished from porcelain and stoneware and from brick and tile

Synonyms

• crockery
• earthenware
• stoneware

Examples of pottery in a Sentence

He has collected pottery for years.

She was a painter for years before she discovered pottery.

Recent Examples on the Web

King Harper once sat at an auction that included several pieces of Wilson pottery from someone’s private estate. —Jacoba Urist, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 May 2025

The latter is still there, at 76, selling retail, carry-out only, from his large stock of sculptural and functional pottery. —Kathe Tanner, Sacbee.com, 23 Apr. 2025

Alternative Education Department assignments may involve offering fun community classes such as pottery and pickleball through Poway Adult School. —Julie Gallant, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Apr. 2025

There’s handcrafted pottery, artwork, and gifts at The Copper Maran. —Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 13 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for pottery

• cautery
• lottery
• watery

Kids Definition

pottery

noun

pot·​tery ˈpät-ə-rē 

plural potteries

1

: a place where clay articles (as pots and vases) are made

2

: the art of the potter : ceramics

3

: articles made from clay that is shaped while moist and hardened by heat