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 noun

factory workers

a factory building

—often used figuratively

a college accused of being a diploma factory

2

archaic : a station where factors reside and trade

a colonial factory

factorylike

ˈfak-t(ə-)rē-ˌlīk 

adjective

Synonyms of factory

• 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

The robot’s initial deployment model combines human supervision with progressive automation rather than requiring complete autonomy before entering a factory. — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 9 Nov. 2026

More than 30% of the orders received by his aluminum-coating factory in the southern Chinese city of Dongguan come from American clients. — Laurie Kellman, Los Angeles Times, 8 Nov. 2026

That includes one of the factory mufflers and the catalytic converter and associated emissions-control sensors, making this an easy install that doesn’t raise any legal questions. — Stephen Edelstein, The Drive, 7 Nov. 2026

Lorén shared that her grandfather worked at a textile factory in the city. — Juan J. Arroyo, Rolling Stone, 7 Nov. 2026

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

1582, in the meaning defined at sense 2

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