factory

noun

fac·​to·​ry ˈfak-t(ə-)rē 

plural factories

1

: a station where factors reside and trade

a colonial factory

2

a

: a building or set of buildings with facilities for manufacturing

b

: the seat of some kind of production

the vice factories of the slums

factorylike

ˈfak-t(ə-)rē-ˌlīk 

adjective

Synonyms

• mill
• plant
• shop
• workshop
• works

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

Then, as those kids grew up and, inevitably, got sentimental about their childhood, the diner adopted a standard set of surface-level signifiers and effectively turned itself into a nostalgia factory. —Ellen Cushing, The Atlantic, 22 Sep. 2025

Any example of the throwback two-door is worthy of your attention, but this particular one has also totaled fewer than 10,000 miles since leaving the factory. —Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 22 Sep. 2025

According to Lanvin, its founder developed 23 shades of blue at her dye factory in Nanterre, one of which was applied to the curtains and seats at the Daunou theater in Paris, one of many decoration projects done in concert with Armand-Albert Rateau. —Miles Socha, Footwear News, 22 Sep. 2025

But growth is down, with factory output and retail sales last month increasing at their slowest rate in a year. —semafor.com, 22 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

fact(or) entry 1 + -ory entry 1; in sense 1 after Portuguese feitoria; in sense 2 perhaps short for manufactory

First Known Use

1582, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing factory

• factory farm
• factory ship
• on the factory floor
• the factory floor
• think factory

Rhymes for factory

• manufactory
• olfactory
• refractory
• unsatisfactory

Kids 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