cottage industry
noun
1
: an industry whose labor force consists of family units or individuals working at home with their own equipment
2
: a small and often informally organized industry
3
: a limited but enthusiastically pursued activity or subject
this debate about sex and law became a cottage industry for feminist academics—
Wendy Kaminer
Wendy KaminerExamples of cottage industry in a Sentence
weaving, pottery, and other cottage industries
Recent Examples on the Web
The big picture: Bonderman was one of the most powerful and influential private equity investors ever, helping push the cottage industry into the mainstream.
—Dan Primack, Axios, 11 Dec. 2024
This has led to a new cottage industry: people who chat with OnlyFans patrons as the creator, juggling multiple conversations and upselling (on said creator’s behalf) all the while.
—Peter Rubin, Longreads, 10 Dec. 2024
Runners-up: Despite a cottage industry built around Texas history textbooks, no others come close.
—Michael Barnes, Austin American-Statesman, 15 Oct. 2024
Photograph: Getty Images Tales of flights filled with service peacocks, service rabbits, service monkeys, service turkeys, and service iguanas have become an internet cottage industry.
—Aarian Marshall, WIRED, 22 Jan. 2020
See all Example Sentences for cottage industry 
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.
Dan Primack, Axios, 11 Dec. 2024
This has led to a new cottage industry: people who chat with OnlyFans patrons as the creator, juggling multiple conversations and upselling (on said creator’s behalf) all the while.
—Peter Rubin, Longreads, 10 Dec. 2024
Runners-up: Despite a cottage industry built around Texas history textbooks, no others come close.
—Michael Barnes, Austin American-Statesman, 15 Oct. 2024
Photograph: Getty Images Tales of flights filled with service peacocks, service rabbits, service monkeys, service turkeys, and service iguanas have become an internet cottage industry.
—Aarian Marshall, WIRED, 22 Jan. 2020
See all Example Sentences for cottage industry
Dictionary Entries Near cottage industry
Cite this Entry
“Cottage industry.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cottage%20industry. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share