factory

noun

fac·​to·​ry ˈfak-t(ə-)rē 

plural factories

1

: a station where factors reside and trade

a colonial factory

2

a

: a building or set of buildings with facilities for manufacturing

b

: the seat of some kind of production

the vice factories of the slums

factorylike

ˈfak-t(ə-)rē-ˌlīk 

adjective

Synonyms

• manufactory
• mill
• plant
• shop
• works
• workshop

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

Locals could not use water from a section of the river, which was reserved for surrounding factories. —Anupama Chandrasekaran, NPR, 30 May 2024

Rad Power Bikes, the largest e-bike company in the US, operates two factories in China. —Andrew J. Hawkins, The Verge, 29 May 2024

Amid a smoky landscape of industrial factories, Suellen (Maeve Jinkings), an underpaid and overworked toll attendant and single mother, constantly feels the pressure of the religious hypocrisy around her. —Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2024

The request infused a jolt of electricity into the social media conspiracy factory. —Chris Eberhart, Fox News, 28 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

fact(or) entry 1 + -ory entry 1; in sense 1 after Portuguese feitoria; in sense 2 perhaps short for manufactory

First Known Use

1582, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing factory

• factory farm
• factory ship
• on the factory floor
• the factory floor
• think factory

Kids 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