factor

1 of 2

noun

fac·​tor ˈfak-tər 

1

: one who acts or transacts business for another: such as

a

: broker sense 1a

b

: one that lends money to producers and dealers (as on the security of accounts receivable)

2

a(1)

: one that actively contributes to the production of a result : ingredient

price wasn't a factor in the decision

(2)

: a substance that functions in or promotes the function of a particular physiological process or bodily system

a clotting factor that facilitates blood coagulation

b

: a good or service (such as land, labor, or capital) used in the process of production

3

: gene

4

a

: any of the numbers or symbols in mathematics that when multiplied together form a product (see product sense 1)

also : a number or symbol that divides another number or symbol

b

: a quantity by which a given quantity is multiplied or divided in order to indicate a difference in measurement

costs increased by a factor of 10

factorship

ˈfak-tər-ˌship 

noun

factor

2 of 2

verb

factored; factoring ˈfak-t(ə-)riŋ 

intransitive verb

: to work as a factor

transitive verb

1

: to resolve into factors

2

a

: to include or admit as a factor

—used with in or into

factor inflation into our calculations

b

: to exclude as a factor

—used with out

factorable

ˈfak-t(ə-)rə-bəl 

adjective

Did you know?

In Latin factor means simply "doer". So in English a factor is an "actor" or element or ingredient in some situation or quantity. Charm can be a factor in someone's success, and lack of exercise can be a factor in producing a poor physique. In math we use factor to mean a number that can be multiplied or divided to produce a given number (for example, 5 and 8 are factors of 40). And in biology a gene may be called a factor, since genes are ingredients in the total organism.

Synonyms

Noun

• agent
• assignee
• attorney
• commissary
• delegate
• deputy
• envoy
• minister
• procurator
• proxy
• rep
• representative

Verb

• allow (for)
• consider
• provide (for)
• regard

Examples of factor in a Sentence

Noun

There were several factors contributing to their recent decline.

Poor planning was a major factor in the company's failure.

6, 4, 3, and 2 are factors of 12.

Verb

you should factor in inflation in making investment decisions

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Recruiting top-tier talent has been a key factor in Rebellions’ success, says Ki-Jun Kim, CEO of Kakao Ventures, who first met Park in 2019 and decided to invest 2 billion won in Rebellions within an hour of their conversation. —John Kang, Forbes.com, 15 Apr. 2025

Actual refund amounts will vary based on a filer's status, withholding amount, and other factors. —Rachel Barber, USA Today, 14 Apr. 2025

Verb

This means consumers may be more financially stretched than their credit reports suggest, as BNPL balances are not factored into debt-to-income ratios or credit scores. —Jack Kelly, Forbes.com, 16 Apr. 2025

Both are on course for their worst Premier League finishes and lowest points totals and that’s not even factoring in the intangible despair among the respective fanbases. —Nick Miller, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English factour "doer, perpetrator, commercial agent," borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French, borrowed from Latin factor "maker, creator, perpetrator" (Medieval Latin, "commercial agent, broker"), from fac-, stem of facere "to make, bring about, perform, do" + -tor, agent suffix — more at fact

Verb

verbal derivative of factor entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1621, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Phrases Containing factor

• antihemophilic factor
• chill factor
• Christmas factor
• citrovorum factor
• clotting factor
• coagulation factor
• colony-stimulating factor
• contributing factor
• deciding factor
• decisive/deciding/determining factor
• epidermal growth factor
• extrinsic factor
• factor analysis
• factor group
• factor IX
• factor V
• factor VIII
• factor X
• fibroblast growth factor
• fudge factor
• g-factor
• growth factor
• insulin-like growth factor
• intrinsic factor
• load factor
• luteinizing hormone-releasing factor
• Mendelian factor
• multi-factor authentication
• multiple factor
• nerve growth factor
• R factor
• Rhesus factor
• rheumatoid factor
• Rh factor
• risk factor
• sleaze factor
• spreading factor
• sun protection factor
• transcription factor
• transfer factor
• tumor necrosis factor
• two-factor authentication
• von Willebrand factor
• VW factor
• X factor

Rhymes for factor

• acter
• actor
• tractor
• attractor
• cofactor
• compactor
• contactor
• contractor
• distractor
• extractor
• impactor
• protractor

Kids Definition

factor

1 of 2 noun

fac·​tor ˈfak-tər 

1

: one that buys or sells property for another : agent

2

: something that contributes to the production of a result

price wasn't a factor in our decision

3

: gene

4

: any of the numbers or symbols in mathematics that when multiplied together form a product

especially : a number that divides another number without leaving a remainder

the factors of 6 are 1, 2, 3, and 6

factor

2 of 2 verb

factored; factoring -t(ə-)riŋ 

1

: to find the mathematical factors of and especially the prime mathematical factors

2

: to act as a factor

attendance will factor into your grade

factorable

-t(ə-)rə-bəl 

adjective

Medical Definition

factor

noun

fac·​tor ˈfak-tər 

1

a

: something that actively contributes to the production of a result

b

: a substance that functions in or promotes the function of a particular physiological process or bodily system

2

: gene

factorial

fak-ˈtōr-ē-əl, -ˈtȯr- 

adjective

Legal Definition

factor

noun

fac·​tor

1

: one who acts or transacts business for another: as

a

: a commercial agent who buys or sells goods for others on commission

b

: one that lends money to producers and dealers (as on the security of accounts receivable)

2

: a person or thing that actively contributes to the production of a result

a difference in salary based on a factor other than sex

Etymology

Noun

Medieval Latin, doer, maker, agent, from Latin, maker, from facere to do, make