pottery

noun

pot·​tery ˈpä-tə-rē How to pronounce pottery (audio)
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

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
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.
Five sketches by New York caricaturist Al Hirschfeld are also among the lots, as are pre-Colombian pottery pieces, turn-of-the century weather vanes, and a Byzantine processional cross. Francesca Aton For Artnews, Robb Report, 21 May 2025 To make the display look interesting, stand some books upright and stack larger books horizontally to serve as pedestals for decorative items like a picture frame or piece of pottery. Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 May 2025 Barnett’s own journey threads through the pages, particularly in her essay linking pre-emancipation pottery traditions to liberation. Byron Armstrong, Forbes.com, 20 May 2025 Establishing a pottery business was complex and costly. Jacoba Urist, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for pottery

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of pottery was in the 15th century

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Cite this Entry

“Pottery.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pottery. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

pottery

noun
pot·​tery ˈpät-ə-rē How to pronounce pottery (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on pottery

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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