What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
foundry
Example
The foundry produced a batch of steel beams for the construction project. [foundry: noun]
Example
The workers were busy melting metal in the foundry to create new parts. [foundry: adjective]
smelter
Example
The smelter was responsible for extracting copper from the ore. [smelter: noun]
Example
The workers were busy smelting the raw materials to create refined metal. [smelting: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Foundry is more commonly used than smelter in everyday language. Foundry is a versatile term that covers a wide range of metalworking activities, while smelter is more specific and refers to a facility that extracts metal from raw materials.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between foundry and smelter?
Both foundry and smelter are formal terms that are typically used in technical or industrial contexts. However, foundry may be slightly more versatile and can be used in a wider range of formality levels.
