factor 1 of 2

noun (1)

ˈfak-tər How to pronounce factor (audio)
Definition of factornext
1
as in delegate
a person who acts or does business for another at the auction the high bidder for the painting was actually a factor for a wealthy art collector

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in component
one of the parts that make up a whole price was only one factor in my decision to buy the car

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

factors

2 of 2

noun (2)

plural of factor
1
as in delegates
a person who acts or does business for another at the auction the high bidder for the painting was actually a factor for a wealthy art collector

Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in components
one of the parts that make up a whole price was only one factor in my decision to buy the car

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of factor
Noun
Broadly, errors in pay in the military are very common because service members can often gain or lose eligibility for a variety of payments depending on their deployment status, duty location or even family factors. — Jack Brook, Los Angeles Times, 5 Sep. 2026 Government, banks, and the stock market The amount beneficiaries receive varies based on several factors, including the number of people filing. — Emily Danner, The Washington Examiner, 5 Sep. 2026
Noun
Some lenders use standard factors by industry; others will accept a letter from a CPA attesting to the business’s actual expense ratio, which can meaningfully improve the income calculation for a lean operation. — Karen Koehler, Miami Herald, 31 Aug. 2026 Other complicating factors can include things like child custody, income, housing and other circumstances that can make domestic survivors feel stuck. — Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 31 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for factor
Recent Examples of Synonyms for factor
  1. delegate
  2. component
  3. agent
  4. element
  5. representative
  6. ingredient
  7. deputy
  8. member
Noun
  • Booth was in Toronto with his wife to attend an international convention for the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) when delegates from New York suddenly received frantic calls and left the meeting.
    — Kaanita Iyer, CNN Money, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Donofry was among the roughly 450 delegates from battleground states Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, along with his home state of Ohio, whom Vance addressed privately at a Thursday morning breakfast.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of delegate
Noun
  • There’s been little movement on the key Democratic demand, an ethics component governing the president and his family, according to two Democratic aides.
    — Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 8 Sep. 2026
  • His first-serve return has been an understatedly devastating component of his game for some time.
    — Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of component
Noun
  • Their defensive line flipped from fatal flaw to deep, disruptive chaos agent.
    — Matt Schneidman, New York Times, 7 Sep. 2026
  • What was the reason, exactly, for agents dressing for battle and toting weapons and riding in boats down the Chicago River?
    — Andrew Carter, Chicago Tribune, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of agent
Noun
  • The third-year wide receiver brings such a different element to the New York offense.
    — Matt Schneidman, New York Times, 7 Sep. 2026
  • Both pairs were wise choices for the colder Telluride weather, keeping both parties’ feet warm and dry, protected from the elements.
    — Amina Ayoud, Footwear News, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of element
Noun
  • Twenty years later, a mayoral candidate with the same last name, Abdullah Hammoud, previously a state representative who is not related to Abed Hammoud, was elected, becoming the first Arab American mayor of Dearborn.
    — Niraj Warikoo, Freep.com, 12 Sep. 2026
  • Talks with Hall’s representatives had taken place over an extended period, but getting the left-back to actually put pen to paper on the deal would be consequential.
    — Chris Waugh, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of representative
Noun
  • Few brands have made ingredient lists feel as approachable as The Ordinary.
    — Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Supplementation to their diet is limited to no more than 25% of dry matter and permitted feed ingredients include hay, wheat, barley, oats and maize from the same region.
    — Vivian Song, CNN Money, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of ingredient
Noun
  • The startled deputy lets out a scream and races back toward his patrol vehicle.
    — Stephen Sorace, FOXNews.com, 6 Sep. 2026
  • This week, multiple deputies in the Hall County Sheriff's Office resigned amid ongoing Flock misuse investigations.
    — Irene Wright, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of deputy
Noun
  • It’s called the Golden Spurs Award — given annually to the Campbell family member who shoots the turkey with the biggest spurs.
    — Colton Pouncy, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Beyond those fixes, those of us with more security training should build awareness with our less experienced neighbors, family members, and friends.
    — Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of member

Phrases Containing factor

Browse Nearby Words

factoids
factor
factored (in or into)
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Factor.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/factor. Accessed 13 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on factor

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about factor

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of shofar

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Words from the 'Odyssey'

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
funny guinea pig in glasses reading a book
Challenging Words You Should Know Vol 2 Words to the wise
See All