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
Hulst diagnosed with brain tumor Serna, a shoe designer for Etonic, was on a trip to the company’s factory in Taiwan in February 1991 when a former UCI teammate reached out with bad news.
—
Scott M. Reid, Oc Register, 30 May 2026
Here, Chinese laborers, factory workers, seamstresses, nail technicians, and cooks take glorious center stage, their lives and deepest yearnings made epic.
—Gabrielle Bellot, Literary Hub, 29 May 2026
Middleton was arrested and charged with two counts of possession of narcotics, two counts of possession of narcotics with intent to sell, operating a drug factory, possession of drug paraphernalia, criminal possession of ammunition and risk of injury to a minor.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 29 May 2026
Waymo then integrates its autonomous driving system during final assembly at its factory in Mesa, Arizona, alongside Magna International Inc.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 29 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for factory
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Scott M. Reid, Oc Register, 30 May 2026
Here, Chinese laborers, factory workers, seamstresses, nail technicians, and cooks take glorious center stage, their lives and deepest yearnings made epic.
—Gabrielle Bellot, Literary Hub, 29 May 2026
Middleton was arrested and charged with two counts of possession of narcotics, two counts of possession of narcotics with intent to sell, operating a drug factory, possession of drug paraphernalia, criminal possession of ammunition and risk of injury to a minor.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 29 May 2026
Waymo then integrates its autonomous driving system during final assembly at its factory in Mesa, Arizona, alongside Magna International Inc.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 29 May 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 4 Jun. 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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