pottery

noun

pot·​tery ˈpä-tə-rē How to pronounce pottery (audio)
plural potteries
Synonyms of potterynext
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

Synonyms of pottery

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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.
Their archaeological sites contain turquoise, southwestern-style pottery, and obsidian from hundreds of kilometers to the west. — ArsTechnica, 27 Aug. 2026 Distinctive pottery made in an Arabian oasis more than 3,000 years ago may have developed many of the characteristics associated with modern brands. — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 26 Aug. 2026 Initial investigations began in 2014, when archaeologists at the University of South Carolina (USC) collaborated with the Muscogee Nation to collect 31 pottery shards from the Etowah mounds. — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 26 Aug. 2026 In his aesthetic response to the movement’s stance, Mansour made mud his medium, layering and molding it for pottery. — Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 25 Aug. 2026 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

Rhymes for pottery

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Browse Nearby Words

potter wasp
pottery
pottery-bark tree
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Cite this Entry

“Pottery.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pottery. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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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

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about pottery

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