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
In 1926, Central Needle Trades High School was established to teach people factory work.
—
Chris Wragge, CBS News, 17 Apr. 2026
Despite the announcement, protests have continued across several industrial pockets in the region, with more than half of factories reportedly shut during the early part of the week.
—Mayu Saini, Footwear News, 17 Apr. 2026
Mounting losses from heavy spending on new factories amid declining revenue contributed to a selloff that sent Intel shares down 60% in 2024.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 17 Apr. 2026
The system will take used Rivian EV battery packs and convert them into a stationary energy storage unit on-site at the factory.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 17 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for factory
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Chris Wragge, CBS News, 17 Apr. 2026
Despite the announcement, protests have continued across several industrial pockets in the region, with more than half of factories reportedly shut during the early part of the week.
—Mayu Saini, Footwear News, 17 Apr. 2026
Mounting losses from heavy spending on new factories amid declining revenue contributed to a selloff that sent Intel shares down 60% in 2024.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 17 Apr. 2026
The system will take used Rivian EV battery packs and convert them into a stationary energy storage unit on-site at the factory.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 17 Apr. 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 20 Apr. 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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