Field vs. Sector: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
Field refers to a specific area of study, work, or interest, while sector refers to a distinct part or subdivision of society, the economy, or any large group.
Key Differences
Field often denotes a particular branch of study, profession, or area of interest, like the field of medicine or linguistics. Sector, conversely, is used to describe a segment of a larger entity, often in economic or organizational contexts, such as the private sector or the healthcare sector.
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Dec 09, 2023
A field implies a more specialized area with a focused scope, emphasizing expertise and knowledge in a particular subject. In contrast, a sector can be broader, encompassing various fields and disciplines within a larger framework or system.
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Dec 09, 2023
When discussing careers or education, field typically relates to one's area of expertise or study, like someone being in the field of engineering. Sector, however, often refers to the part of the economy or market where one works, such as the technology sector.
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Dec 09, 2023
In organizational contexts, sector can denote a subdivision of an organization or economy, categorizing different aspects of it. Field, however, is more about the specific subject matter or operational domain within these sectors.
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Dec 09, 2023
Field has a broader cultural and social usage, also encompassing hobbies or areas of personal interest, like someone being an enthusiast in the field of photography. Sector, however, is more formal and is predominantly used in economic, business, or organizational contexts.
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Dec 09, 2023
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Comparison Chart
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Field and Sector Definitions
Field
Realm of professional activity.
He has worked in the field of journalism for years.
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Dec 09, 2023
Sector
A division of the market based on economic activity.
The renewable energy sector is gaining investment.
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Dec 09, 2023
Field
Practical work conducted in a natural environment.
The biologist spends months in the field collecting data.
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Dec 09, 2023
Sector
Part of the economy focused on a certain type of activity.
The technology sector is rapidly evolving.
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Dec 09, 2023
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Sector
A part or division, as of a city or a national economy
The manufacturing sector.
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Oct 19, 2023
Field
A cultivated expanse of land, especially one devoted to a particular crop
A field of corn.
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Sector
A measuring instrument consisting of two graduated arms hinged together at one end.
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Field
A portion of land or a geologic formation containing a specified natural resource
A copper field.
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Oct 19, 2023
Sector
(Computers) A portion of a storage device making up the smallest addressable unit of information.
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Oct 19, 2023
Sector
A division of a defensive position for which one military unit is responsible.
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Oct 19, 2023
Field
The scene or an area of military operations or maneuvers
Officers in the field.
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Oct 19, 2023
Field
A background area, as on a flag, painting, or coin
A blue insignia on a field of red.
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Oct 19, 2023
Field
(Heraldry) The background of a shield or one of the divisions of the background.
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Oct 19, 2023
Sector
(geometry) part of a circle, extending to the center; circular sector
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Oct 19, 2023
Field
An area or setting of practical activity or application outside an office, school, factory, or laboratory
Biologists working in the field.
A product tested in the field.
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Oct 19, 2023
Sector
(computer hardware) fixed-sized unit (traditionally 512 bytes) of sequential data stored on a track of a digital medium (compare to block)
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Oct 19, 2023
Field
An area or region where business activities are conducted
Sales representatives in the field.
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Oct 19, 2023
Sector
(military) an area designated by boundaries within which a unit operates, and for which it is responsible
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Oct 19, 2023
Field
An area in which an athletic event takes place, especially the area inside or near to a running track, where field events are held.
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Oct 19, 2023
Field
In baseball, the positions on defense or the ability to play defense
She excels in the field.
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Oct 19, 2023
Sector
(science fiction) a fictional region of space designated for navigational or governance purposes.
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Oct 19, 2023
Field
In baseball, one of the three sections of the outfield
He can hit to any field.
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Sector
(calculation) an instrument consisting of two rulers of equal length joined by a hinge.
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Field
A range, area, or subject of human activity, interest, or knowledge
Several fields of endeavor.
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Oct 19, 2023
Field
The contestants or participants in a competition or athletic event, especially those other than the favorite or winner.
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Oct 19, 2023
Sector
(motor racing) A fixed, continuous section of the track, such that sectors do not overlap but all sectors make up the whole track.
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Oct 19, 2023
Field
The people running in an election for a political office
The field has been reduced to three candidates.
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Oct 19, 2023
Field
(Mathematics) A set of elements having two operations, designated addition and multiplication, satisfying the conditions that multiplication is distributive over addition, that the set is a group under addition, and that the elements with the exception of the additive identity form a group under multiplication.
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Oct 19, 2023
Sector
A part of a circle comprehended between two radii and the included arc.
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Field
(Physics) A physical quantity in a region of space, such as gravitational force or fluid pressure, having a distinct value (scalar, vector, or tensor) at each point.
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Oct 19, 2023
Sector
A mathematical instrument, consisting of two rulers connected at one end by a joint, each arm marked with several scales, as of equal parts, chords, sines, tangents, etc., one scale of each kind on each arm, and all on lines radiating from the common center of motion. The sector is used for plotting, etc., to any scale.
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Oct 19, 2023
Field
The usually circular area in which the image is rendered by the lens system of an optical instrument; field of view.
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Oct 19, 2023
Sector
An astronomical instrument, the limb of which embraces a small portion only of a circle, used for measuring differences of declination too great for the compass of a micrometer. When it is used for measuring zenith distances of stars, it is called a zenith sector.
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Oct 19, 2023
Field
An element of a database record in which one piece of information is stored.
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Sector
A plane figure bounded by two radii and the included arc of a circle
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Oct 19, 2023
Field
A space, as on an online form or request for information, that accepts the input of text
An address field.
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Oct 19, 2023
Sector
A body of people who form part of society or economy;
The public sector
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Sector
A particular aspect of life or activity;
He was helpless in an important sector of his life
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Sector
The minimum track length that can be assigned to store information; unless otherwise specified a sector of data consists of 512 bytes
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Field
Working, operating, or active in the field
Field representatives of a firm.
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Oct 19, 2023
Field
(Sports) To catch or pick up (a ball) and often make a throw to another player, especially in baseball.
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Sector
Measuring instrument consisting of two graduated arms hinged at one end
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Sector
Government-controlled part of the economy.
She works in the public sector, focusing on education.
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Dec 09, 2023
Sector
Part of the economy owned and managed privately.
Innovations often come from the private sector.
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Sector
A segment of society with common characteristics.
The youth sector is an important demographic.
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Dec 09, 2023
Field
A land area free of woodland, cities, and towns; an area of open country.
There are several species of wild flowers growing in this field.
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Oct 19, 2023
Field
A wide, open space that is used to grow crops or to hold farm animals, usually enclosed by a fence, hedge or other barrier.
There were some cows grazing in a field.
A crop circle was made in a corn field.
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Oct 19, 2023
Field
(geology) A region containing a particular mineral.
An oil field; a gold field
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Oct 19, 2023
Field
An airfield, airport or air base; especially, one with unpaved runways.
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Oct 19, 2023
Field
An area reserved for playing a game or race with one’s physical force.
Soccer field
Substitutes are only allowed onto the field after their boots are checked.
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Oct 19, 2023
Field
A place where competitive matches are carried out with figures, or playing area in a board game or a computer game.
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Oct 19, 2023
Field
A competitive situation, circumstances in which one faces conflicting moves of rivals.
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Oct 19, 2023
Field
(metonymically) All of the competitors in any outdoor contest or trial, or all except the favourites in the betting.
This racehorse is the strongest in a weak field.
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Oct 19, 2023
Field
(physics) A physical phenomenon (such as force, potential or fluid velocity) that pervades a region; a mathematical model of such a phenomenon that associates each point and time with a scalar, vector or tensor quantity.
Magnetic field; gravitational field; scalar field
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Oct 19, 2023
Field
A physical or virtual location for the input of information in the form of symbols.
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Oct 19, 2023
Field
To be the team catching and throwing the ball, as opposed to hitting it.
The blue team are fielding first, while the reds are batting.
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Field
To place a team, its players, etc. in a game.
The away team fielded two new players and the second-choice goalkeeper.
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Oct 19, 2023
Field
(transitive) To answer; to address.
She will field questions immediately after her presentation.
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Oct 19, 2023
Field
(transitive) To execute research (in the field).
He fielded the marketing survey about the upcoming product.
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Oct 19, 2023
Field
Cleared land; land suitable for tillage or pasture; cultivated ground; the open country.
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Oct 19, 2023
Field
A piece of land of considerable size; esp., a piece inclosed for tillage or pasture.
Fields which promise corn and wine.
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Oct 19, 2023
Field
A place where a battle is fought; also, the battle itself.
In this glorious and well-foughten field.
What though the field be lost?
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Oct 19, 2023
Field
An open space; an extent; an expanse.
Without covering, save yon field of stars.
Ask of yonder argent fields above.
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Oct 19, 2023
Field
The whole surface of an escutcheon; also, so much of it is shown unconcealed by the different bearings upon it. See Illust. of Fess, where the field is represented as gules (red), while the fess is argent (silver).
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Oct 19, 2023
Field
An unresticted or favorable opportunity for action, operation, or achievement; province; room.
Afforded a clear field for moral experiments.
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Oct 19, 2023
Field
A collective term for all the competitors in any outdoor contest or trial, or for all except the favorites in the betting.
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Field
That part of the grounds reserved for the players which is outside of the diamond; - called also outfield.
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Oct 19, 2023
Field
A piece of land cleared of trees and usually enclosed;
He planted a field of wheat
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Field
A region where a battle is being (or has been) fought;
They made a tour of Civil War battlefields
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Field
Somewhere (away from a studio or office or library or laboratory) where practical work is done or data is collected;
Anthropologists do much of their work in the field
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Oct 19, 2023
Field
A branch of knowledge;
In what discipline is his doctorate?
Teachers should be well trained in their subject
Anthropology is the study of human beings
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Oct 19, 2023
Field
The space around a radiating body within which its electromagnetic oscillations can exert force on another similar body not in contact with it
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Oct 19, 2023
Field
A particular kind of commercial enterprise;
They are outstanding in their field
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Oct 19, 2023
Field
A particular environment or walk of life;
His social sphere is limited
It was a closed area of employment
He's out of my orbit
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Oct 19, 2023
Field
A piece of land prepared for playing a game;
The home crowd cheered when Princeton took the field
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Oct 19, 2023
Field
Extensive tract of level open land;
They emerged from the woods onto a vast open plain
He longed for the fields of his youth
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Oct 19, 2023
Field
(mathematics) a set of elements such that addition and multiplication are commutative and associative and multiplication is distributive over addition and there are two elements 0 and 1;
The set of all rational numbers is a field
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Oct 19, 2023
Field
A region in which active military operations are in progress;
The army was in the field awaiting action
He served in the Vietnam theater for three years
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Oct 19, 2023
Field
A geographic region (land or sea) under which something valuable is found;
The diamond fields of South Africa
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Oct 19, 2023
Field
(computer science) a set of one or more adjacent characters comprising a unit of information
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Oct 19, 2023
Field
Answer adequately or successfully;
The lawyer fielded all questions from the press
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Oct 19, 2023
Field
Select (a team or individual player) for a game;
The Patriots fielded a young new quarterback for the Rose Bowl
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Oct 19, 2023
Field
Area of study or research.
She is renowned in the field of astrophysics.
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Dec 09, 2023
Field
A particular area of focus or interest.
Her field of interest is Renaissance art.
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Dec 09, 2023
Field
An area for playing sports.
The soccer match was held on the new field.
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Dec 09, 2023
Repeatedly Asked Queries
Is sector more used in economics?
Yes, sector is commonly used in economic contexts.
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Dec 09, 2023
What distinguishes a field from a sector in terms of scope?
A field is more specialized, while a sector is broader.
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Dec 09, 2023
What is a sector in business terms?
A division of the economy focused on a particular type of activity.
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Dec 09, 2023
Are fields related to personal interests?
Yes, fields can also denote areas of personal interest or hobbies.
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Dec 09, 2023
What role does a sector play in economic analysis?
Sectors help in categorizing and analyzing different parts of the economy.
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Dec 09, 2023
How is a market sector different from an economic sector?
Market sector is more specific to a segment of the market.
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Dec 09, 2023
What is a primary sector in economics?
It's a sector focused on extraction and production of raw materials.
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Dec 09, 2023
Can a field overlap with multiple sectors?
Yes, some fields span across various sectors.
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Dec 09, 2023
Can one change their field of work easily?
It depends on the level of specialization and experience.
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Dec 09, 2023
What is the significance of private sector?
It's crucial for economic growth, innovation, and employment.
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Dec 09, 2023
Are sectors important in policy making?
Yes, understanding sectors is vital for effective economic and social policies.
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Dec 09, 2023
Can a sector include multiple fields?
Yes, a sector can encompass various fields.
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Dec 09, 2023
Is field work limited to outdoor activities?
Not always, it can also include practical work in various settings.
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Dec 09, 2023
Is the public sector government-run?
Yes, the public sector is controlled by the government.
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Dec 09, 2023
How does one choose a field of study?
It often depends on personal interest and career goals.
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Dec 09, 2023
Does a field imply expertise?
Generally, yes, it indicates a certain level of knowledge or skill.
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Dec 09, 2023
Can sectors change over time?
Yes, sectors can evolve with economic and social changes.
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Dec 09, 2023
What impact do sectors have on employment?
Sectors often determine the types and availability of jobs.
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Dec 09, 2023
Can a field become obsolete?
Yes, with advancements and changes, some fields may become less relevant.
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Dec 09, 2023
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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