From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishsectorsec‧tor /ˈsektə $ -ər/ ●●○ W3 AWL noun [countable] 1 PARTa part of an area of activity, especially of business, trade etcsector of the agricultural sector of the economypublic/private sector (=business controlled by the government or by private companies)2 AREAone of the parts into which an area is divided, especially for military purposesCOLLOCATIONSadjectivesan economic sector (=one part of the economy)The country is making efforts to expand such economic sectors as tourism and information technology.the agricultural/manufacturing/industrial sector (=the part of the economy to do with growing food/producing goods)As the industrial sector grew, more and more of the population moved to the cities.the service sector (=the part of the economy to do with providing services, such as banking or tourism)The proportion of service sector jobs within the economy has grown.the financial/banking sector (=the part of the economy to do with money and finance)The UK financial sector is looking healthier than ever.the public sector (=businesses controlled by the government)The government has been holding down pay in the public sector.the private sector (=businesses that the government does not control)Generally speaking, employees in the private sector are well rewarded.the voluntary sector (=people doing socially useful work for no money)The voluntary sector has an important role in tackling urban deprivation.an important sectorSport is now recognized as an important sector of economic activity.a key sector (=a very important one)They identified cars and electronics as key sectors in the economy.the rented sector (=homes that people can rent)We have lost 2 million homes from the rented sector.
Examples from the Corpus
sector• recent disturbances in the city's Christian sector• The growth in the number of home computers has boosted the electronics sector.• An extra £750m will be used before the end of 1992/93 to buy up some empty properties in the owner-occupied housing sector.• Students have been placed throughout the United Kingdom in both the public and private sectors.• Only after that would they recruit from the private sector.• The high gas prices and long lines were prolonged by government interference in the private sector.• Private sector pay increases were again above the rate of inflation.• The main source of work here is public sector employment.• In 1979,32 percent of dwellings in Great Britain were in the public sector.• Because of the wide range of problems that the public sector faces there will be different approaches to planning in different situations.sector of• growth in the manufacturing sector of the state's economyFrom Longman Business Dictionarysectorsec‧tor /ˈsektə-ər/ noun [countable]ECONOMICS all the organizations or companies in a particular area of activity, industry etcThe electronics sector accounted for revenue of £940.4 million.The performance of the troubled housing sector is being watched very closely.the growth of jobs in the service sector —sectoral adjectiveA major commitment is required on the part of agricultural and forestry concerns to bridge sectoral barriers. → corporate sector → market sector → private sector → public sector → service sectorOrigin sector (1500-1600) Latin secare; → SECTION1 