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

Roman era artifacts include cobblestones — potentially from a 2nd century road — as well as pottery and the footings of a townhouse. —Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 17 Apr. 2025

Archaeologists also found several bricks stamped with the names of Roman military units, coins, pottery and other metal artifacts. —Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 16 Apr. 2025

Five informational booths will focus on cultural preservation, language revitalization and Indigenous rights, and 10 booths will showcase traditional crafts, bead work, pottery and contemporary art. —Gary Warth, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Apr. 2025

Arrowheads and pottery galore go back millennia, while Plains Indians headdresses and Osage war clubs represent just some of the holdings from the recent past. —John Oseid, Forbes.com, 28 Mar. 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