factorial

1 of 2

adjective

fac·​to·​ri·​al fak-ˈtȯr-ē-əl 

: of, relating to, or being a factor or a factorial

factorial

2 of 2

noun

1

: the product of all the positive integers from 1 to n

—symbol n!

2

: the quantity 0! arbitrarily defined as equal to 1

Examples of factorial in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

While the exit could be multi-factorial, what is known is that congruence isn't judged in a single moment. — Julian Hayes Ii, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026

Originally launched in England in the Women’s Super League, Project ACL adds another leading women’s league in a coordinated approach to better understand and address the multi-factorial causes of ACL injuries in the women’s game. — Sportico Staff, Sportico.com, 24 Apr. 2026

The factorial growth of these particle physics calculations outpaces the exponential growth of computing power. — Quanta Magazine, 1 Dec. 2022

The benefits of having a small and independent unit focusing on a challenge is multi-factorial. — Nelson Dumas, Forbes, 24 June 2022

If each neuron, or brain cell, could connect with any other in your skull, the number of combinations would be 85 billion factorial. — Bob Berman, Discover Magazine, 3 June 2014

Noun

The exclamation point denotes an arithmetic operation known as a factorial, which multiplies all natural numbers up to the number before the factorial. — Manon Bischoff, Scientific American, 16 Nov. 2023

The problem scales as a factorial, a mathematical relationship that grows even faster than exponential growth. — Quanta Magazine, 1 Dec. 2022

The exclamation point there isn’t the end of a sentence but, instead, denotes a factorial, the value obtained by multiplying the number by every number that precedes it. — Philip Bump, Washington Post, 20 Dec. 2019

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

factor entry 1 + -ial (in mathematical sense after French factoriel)

Noun

borrowed from French factorielle, noun derivative from feminine of factoriel factorial entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

1837, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1869, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for factorial

• boreal
• ambassadorial
• combinatorial
• conspiratorial
• extracorporeal
• gladiatorial
• gubernatorial
• inquisitorial
• mediatorial
• multifactorial
• prosecutorial
• supratentorial

Kids Definition

factorial

1 of 2 noun

fac·​to·​ri·​al fak-ˈtōr-ē-əl 

-ˈtȯr-

1

: the product of all the positive whole numbers from 1 to the number given

—symbol !

2

: the quantity 0! that is defined as equal to 1

factorial

2 of 2 adjective

: of, relating to, or being a factor or factorial