What does the term "construction" primarily refer to?

The term "construction" primarily refers to the act of building because it encompasses the entire process of creating structures, such as homes, commercial buildings, roads, and bridges. This definition includes not only the physical act of assembling materials but also the overall coordination of various tasks and trades needed to complete a project.

In the context of this question, building is at the heart of construction, as it involves transforming plans and designs into physical assets. While designing, renovating, and inspecting are essential components of the broader construction industry, they fall under related but distinct categories. Designing focuses on the planning and conceptualization stage before construction begins, renovating refers to updating or modifying existing structures, and inspection is crucial for quality and safety assurance after the building process. However, the primary activity that defines construction is the actual act of building.