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
Its next step is to build a factory producing energy storage systems in Brazil, Yu said.
—
Xiaoying You, semafor.com, 24 Feb. 2026
For EssilorLuxottica, the burgeoning demand for AI glasses comes with a downside, in the form of lower profit margins due to costs such as factory expansions and more-expensive electronic components.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 24 Feb. 2026
As an odd contrast to Monday’s vote, Philip Morris International recently began ramping up production of its increasingly popular ZYN nicotine pouches at a new factory in Aurora, south of Denver International Airport.
—John Aguilar, Denver Post, 24 Feb. 2026
The factory, which offers tours and a visitor’s center, is a popular tourist attraction in Fairfield.
—Los Angeles Times, 24 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for factory
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Xiaoying You, semafor.com, 24 Feb. 2026
For EssilorLuxottica, the burgeoning demand for AI glasses comes with a downside, in the form of lower profit margins due to costs such as factory expansions and more-expensive electronic components.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 24 Feb. 2026
As an odd contrast to Monday’s vote, Philip Morris International recently began ramping up production of its increasingly popular ZYN nicotine pouches at a new factory in Aurora, south of Denver International Airport.
—John Aguilar, Denver Post, 24 Feb. 2026
The factory, which offers tours and a visitor’s center, is a popular tourist attraction in Fairfield.
—Los Angeles Times, 24 Feb. 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 26 Feb. 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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