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

But once up on stage, her reasonable-sounding language was replaced by the consistent mispronunciation of Kamala Harris's first name and exaggerations of the scale of recent Stellantis (formerly Chrysler) layoffs at their factory in nearby Warren, Michigan. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024

Knock-on effects of the strike have reverberated far beyond Boeing’s West Coast factories. —Melvin Backman, Quartz, 5 Nov. 2024

Crystal outlined a number of sustainability advancements earlier this year in its annual sustainability report, including significantly improving water resource and wastewater management in its denim factory in Cambodia, dropping freshwater intensity per piece by around 30 percent. —Jennifer Bringle, Sourcing Journal, 5 Nov. 2024

One major Boeing jet, the 787 Dreamliner, is manufactured at a nonunion factory in South Carolina. —Kate Gibson, CBS News, 5 Nov. 2024

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

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