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
An entire cottage industry of startups and consultants has emerged to help retailers and brands ensure their products appear in AI search results, a field called Generative Engine Optimization.
—Los Angeles Times, 11 Feb. 2026
There was a cottage industry of websites telling people what time the Super Bowl was.
—Bill Chappell, NPR, 7 Feb. 2026
There is an entire cottage industry built around the public's hunger for news about famous people.
—Bill Goodykoontz, AZCentral.com, 3 Feb. 2026
For high earners seeking real relief, a cottage industry has emerged around burnout recovery.
—Opheli Garcia Lawler, Travel + Leisure, 18 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for cottage industry
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Los Angeles Times, 11 Feb. 2026
There was a cottage industry of websites telling people what time the Super Bowl was.
—Bill Chappell, NPR, 7 Feb. 2026
There is an entire cottage industry built around the public's hunger for news about famous people.
—Bill Goodykoontz, AZCentral.com, 3 Feb. 2026
For high earners seeking real relief, a cottage industry has emerged around burnout recovery.
—Opheli Garcia Lawler, Travel + Leisure, 18 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for cottage industry
Cite this Entry
“Cottage industry.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cottage%20industry. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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