From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishsmokestack industryˈsmokestack ˌindustry noun [countable usually plural] TIa big traditional industry such as car makingFrom Longman Business Dictionarysmokestack industryˈsmokestack ˌindustry [countable]MANUFACTURING a HEAVY INDUSTRY, often in an old industrial areaChina’s steel mills, auto plants and other smokestack industries are gathered in the industrial belt. → industry
