service-sector
Meaning
The part of a country's economy that is concerned with providing services rather than producing goods.
Structure
Usage
Jobs in the service-sector, such as retail and healthcare, have grown significantly.
The government is implementing policies to boost productivity in the service-sector.
A large portion of the country's GDP now comes from the service-sector.
Etymology
The term "service-sector" is a modern compound noun formed in the 20th century to describe a specific economic category. Its first element, "service", originates from the Latin concept of 'servitium', denoting the condition of a servant or slave, which semantically broadened to encompass any non-material work performed for others. The second element, "sector", derives from the Latin 'secare', meaning to cut, and evolved to signify a distinct segment carved out from a larger whole, such as an economy. The compound logically combines these ideas to define the segment of economic activity dedicated to providing intangible assistance, expertise, or labour, as opposed to producing physical commodities, reflecting the post-industrial shift in economic analysis.
Analysis
- service: From Old French 'servise', from Latin 'servitium' (slavery, condition of a slave), from 'servus' (slave). In this compound, it functions as a noun meaning "the action of helping or working for someone". - sector: From Latin 'sector' (cutter, one who cuts), from 'secare' (to cut). In this compound, it functions as a noun meaning "a distinct part or branch of a nation's economy or society".