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

• manufactory
• mill
• plant
• shop
• works
• workshop

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

On factory floors, shared accounts are frequently used for workstations that monitor equipment or order parts. —Michael Engle, Forbes, 5 Mar. 2025

However, the company’s most advanced chip technology at the 3nm and the upcoming 2nm node is being used and developed in factories in Taiwan. —Michael Kan, PCMAG, 5 Mar. 2025

As a result, he's temporarily halted investment at his factories in Texas and Georgia. —Scott Horsley, NPR, 4 Mar. 2025

Bags of nickel ore ready to be shipped at a nickel factory operated by PT Vale Indonesia in Sorowako, South Sulawesi. —Lionel Lim, Fortune Asia, 4 Mar. 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