Definition

1. Noun:
   • An economic sector that provides services rather than producing tangible goods: A service industry is a category of business that offers intangible value, activities, or benefits to customers. Its output is not a physical product but an action, performance, or experience.

Usage

• The term "service industry" is used to classify and discuss broad sectors of the economy, often in contrast to manufacturing or agricultural industries.
• It functions as a countable noun (e.g., "a service industry," "many service industries").

Examples

• Noun:
  • Tourism is a major service industry for many island nations.
  • The growth of the service industry has led to a decline in manufacturing jobs in the region.
  • Banking, healthcare, and education are all considered service industries.

Advanced Usage

• "The service sector": This is a common synonym used to refer collectively to all service industries within an economy.
  • Employment in the service sector now exceeds that in manufacturing.

Variants and Related Words

• Service sector (n): A synonym for the collective group of service industries.
• Service provider (n): A company or organization that supplies a service.
  • The telecom company is a key service provider.

Synonyms

• Service sector
• Tertiary sector (in a three-sector economic model)

Antonyms

• Manufacturing industry
• Goods-producing industry
• Primary industry (e.g., agriculture, mining)

Noun

1. an industry that provides services rather than tangible objects