sector
/sek-TOR/
sector
A 'sector' can refer to a division within the economy, like the agricultural, industrial, or service sectors.
sector(noun)
sector
?economic or business division
,industry
?a specific type of business
sphere
?area of influence
📝 In Action
El sector turístico se recuperó rápidamente después de la pandemia.
B1The tourism sector recovered quickly after the pandemic.
Necesitamos más inversión en el sector de energías renovables.
B2We need more investment in the renewable energy sector.
Ella trabaja en el sector público, para el gobierno.
B1She works in the public sector, for the government.
💡 Grammar Points
Gender Check
Remember that 'sector' is always masculine, so you must use 'el' or 'un' with it: 'el sector,' 'un sector importante.'
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing 'Sector' and 'Sección'
Mistake: "Usar 'sección' cuando se refiere a la economía (e.g., 'la sección industrial')."
Correction: 'Sector' is used for large divisions of the economy or society (e.g., 'el sector industrial'). 'Sección' means a small part or chapter (e.g., 'la sección de noticias').
⭐ Usage Tips
Use with Adjectives
It often pairs with adjectives describing its health or size: 'un sector creciente' (a growing sector) or 'un sector en crisis' (a sector in crisis).
In geography, 'sector' translates to 'area' or 'zone,' referring to a specific physical region or neighborhood.
sector(noun)
area
?physical zone or neighborhood
,zone
?designated region
district
?administrative region
📝 In Action
La policía acordonó ese sector de la ciudad después del accidente.
B1The police cordoned off that sector of the city after the accident.
Este sector del estadio ofrece una mejor vista del campo.
B1This section of the stadium offers a better view of the field.
El mapa muestra los sectores asignados a cada equipo de limpieza.
B2The map shows the zones assigned to each cleaning crew.
⭐ Usage Tips
Formal Contexts
When talking about specific geographical divisions, especially in military, urban planning, or disaster relief, 'sector' is often preferred over the more general 'zona' or 'área'.
A 'sector' is also a geometric figure—the area of a circle enclosed by two radii and the arc between them.
📝 In Action
El cálculo del área del sector circular es fundamental en este problema.
C1Calculating the area of the circular sector is fundamental in this problem.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: sector
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'sector' in its most common economic meaning?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'sector' only used for business and economy?
No. While it's very common in economic discussions (e.g., 'sector privado'), it is also used for physical areas or zones, like 'el sector norte de la ciudad' (the northern area of the city).
How is 'sector' different from 'área'?
They are often interchangeable when talking about a physical zone. However, 'sector' often implies a formal, defined division or segment that has been intentionally marked or separated (like a military zone or a business division), whereas 'área' is more general.