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.
Pictures show divers working among piles of ancient pottery, with ceramic plates and bowls scattered across the sandy seabed. — Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 9 Oct. 2026 The island’s permanent Art House invites guests—of all ages—to get creative on canvas or pottery with the guidance of its resident artist. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Oct. 2026 In the park, the designers combined four species of flowers with broken pieces of local pottery to form a polychromatic mosaic that weaves together vegetation and craft. — Kieron Marchese, Architectural Digest, 6 Oct. 2026 Hirai’s practice spans functional pottery and sculptural vessels. — Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 4 Oct. 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 14 Oct. 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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