French word

tertiaire

Pronunciation

IPA/tɛʁsjɛʁ/

Meaning

  • masculine nounservice industry

Example

Le tertiaire embauche beaucoup de jeunes.

The service industry hires many young people.

Illustration for tertiaire (service industry)

More examples

Je travaille dans le tertiaire depuis trois ans.

I've been working in the service sector for three years.

Core concept

A broad economic field of shops, transport, finance, schools, hospitals, and other service activities rather than factories or farms.

Common phrases

  • travailler dans le tertiaire

    work in the service sector

  • chercher un emploi dans le tertiaire

    look for a job in the service sector

  • dans le tertiaire

    in the service sector

Similar words

services: Intangible assistance or work provided by a shop or company to its customers.
économie: The social system concerned with producing, distributing, and consuming goods and services.
entreprise: A company or legal organization that makes and sells goods or provides services.
commerce: Commercial activity involving the sale and distribution of goods.

Definition in French

Dénomination donnée à l'ensemble des activités non matérielles de l'économie, utilisée pour désigner la « troisième » branche composée de services.

Word origin

Tertiaire comes from Latin tertiarius, meaning third, and the noun is a shortened form of French secteur tertiaire.

Usage tips

  • The masculine noun usually appears as le tertiaire in economic writing, while les services is often clearer in ordinary conversation.

Opposites

Word lists with this word