factory
noun
fac·to·ry
ˈfak-t(ə-)rē 
plural factories
1
: a building or set of buildings with facilities for manufacturing
a car factory
—often used before another nounfactory workers
a factory building
—often used figurativelya college accused of being a diploma factory
2
archaic
: a station where factors reside and trade
a colonial factory
Examples of factory in a Sentence
She got a job in the factory.
the new factory will create hundreds of much-needed jobs
Recent Examples on the Web
Cfoto | Future Publishing | Getty Images China's factory activity faltered in February as manufacturers paused production and cargo shipment to celebrate an extended holiday, an official survey showed on Wednesday.
—
Anniek Bao, CNBC, 4 Mar. 2026
As global automakers and tech firms accelerate real-world trials, Xiaomi’s latest deployment underscores how humanoid robots are steadily moving from experimental prototypes toward practical roles on factory floors.
—Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 3 Mar. 2026
The Stark Flight Lab attraction will be set inside Tony Stark’s workshop where riders will fly like Iron Man at the end of an auto factory-style robotic arm during a simulated flight.
—Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 3 Mar. 2026
The top surface is glass and features a dotted, dark ceramic coating burned into the top of the glass that only one factory in the world can make, according to Thornton.
—Pj Green
march 3, Kansas City Star, 3 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for factory
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Anniek Bao, CNBC, 4 Mar. 2026
As global automakers and tech firms accelerate real-world trials, Xiaomi’s latest deployment underscores how humanoid robots are steadily moving from experimental prototypes toward practical roles on factory floors.
—Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 3 Mar. 2026
The Stark Flight Lab attraction will be set inside Tony Stark’s workshop where riders will fly like Iron Man at the end of an auto factory-style robotic arm during a simulated flight.
—Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 3 Mar. 2026
The top surface is glass and features a dotted, dark ceramic coating burned into the top of the glass that only one factory in the world can make, according to Thornton.
—Pj Green
march 3, Kansas City Star, 3 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for factory
Cite this Entry
“Factory.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/factory. Accessed 6 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
factory
noun
fac·to·ry
ˈfak-t(ə-)rē
plural factories
: a building or set of buildings equipped for manufacturing
Etymology
from early French factorie "a place where business is carried on," derived from Latin factor "one that does or makes," from factus, past participle of facere "to make, do" — related to fashion, manufacture
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