factor

1 of 2

noun

fac·​tor ˈfak-tər 

1

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

a

: broker sense 1b

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.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

However, against Samford specifically, there were factors that attributed to the running back room’s struggles. —Ainslie Lee | [e-mail], al, 18 Sep. 2023

Investigators have not yet determined whether alcohol or drugs were factors in the crash, CHP Officer Hunter Gerber said. —Caleb Lunetta, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Sep. 2023

What to Know About TV Stands Before Shopping TV Compatibility When shopping for the best TV stand, there are a few factors to consider. —Rena Behar, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 Sep. 2023

How much your premium is depends on a variety of factors, including the age and condition of your home, the cost to rebuild it, and the location of the home. —Sarah Raza, BostonGlobe.com, 18 Sep. 2023

And the rollercoaster nature of COVID-19 is providing ample opportunities for both. Lockdowns, furloughs, unemployment, periods without access to healthcare providers, and possible medication shortages are just some of the factors that can have a significant impact on daily life. —Adrienne Dellwo, Verywell Health, 18 Sep. 2023

The study emphasizes that these nine factors are all deeply intertwined. —Tara Wu, Smithsonian Magazine, 18 Sep. 2023

Oftentimes, administrators and researchers said, students may use rankings to prepare an initial list of potential matches, but make a final enrollment decision based on other factors — from a financial aid package to a dining hall’s breakfast-for-dinner buffet. —Alan Blinder, New York Times, 17 Sep. 2023

Thanks to the ongoing writers and actors strikes in Hollywood, this year the celebrity factor was dialed way down. —Ann Hornaday, Washington Post, 17 Sep. 2023

Verb

Prescribed burns are key to reducing the risks of fires growing to out-of-control infernos, and Jones would like to see insurers factor such risk reduction into their assessments. —Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 7 Sep. 2023

Heat indexes — figures derived by factoring relative humidity into the air temperature — frequently soared into the 100s along the North Carolina coast. —Emily Kask, Washington Post, 3 Sep. 2023

The second estimate factored in greater consumer spending, government outlays and exports, compared with the initial estimate. —Krystal Hur, CNN, 31 Aug. 2023

Design decisions will factor in considerations for astronauts who will eventually inhabit the Moon and stay in space potentially for months at a time–much longer than those who visited during the U.S. Apollo missions. —Massimo Comparini, Fortune, 30 Aug. 2023

Those rebates were not factored into the selection of which medicines would be subject to negotiations. —Rebecca Robbins, New York Times, 29 Aug. 2023

But defensive coordinator Wink Martindale has valued versatility in his lineups, and Simmons could factor into three-safety looks. —Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz, USA TODAY, 24 Aug. 2023

His computer models, factoring in climate change and other ingredients, found that the type of storm that would dump 15.7 inches of rain (40 centimeters) on downtown Los Angeles used to have a one-in-108-year chance of happening, at least until 2010. —Time, 22 Aug. 2023

For instance, a high-speed two-wheeler in Delhi may now cost just 15% to 20% more than its diesel-powered equivalent when factoring in federal and state subsidies, according to Bain, compared to up to 30% without subsidies. —Michelle Toh, CNN, 22 Aug. 2023

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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

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

See More

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

See More

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