factor

American  

[fak-ter] / ˈfæk tər /

noun

• factors
  plural

1. one of the elements contributing to a particular result or situation.

   Poverty is only one of the factors in crime.

2. Mathematics. one of two or more numbers, algebraic expressions, or the like, that when multiplied together produce a given product; a divisor.

   6 and 3 are factors of 18.

3. Biochemistry. any of certain substances necessary to a biochemical or physiological process, especially those whose exact nature and function are unknown.

4. a business organization that lends money on accounts receivable or buys and collects accounts receivable.

5. a person who acts or transacts business for another; an agent.

6. an agent entrusted with the possession of goods to be sold in the agent's name; a merchant earning a commission by selling goods belonging to others.

7. a person or business organization that provides money for another's new business venture; one who finances another's business.

8. factor of production.

9. Scot. the steward or bailiff of an estate.

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verb (used with object)

• factors,
  present (3rd person singular)
• factored,
  past participle,  past
• factoring
  present participle

1. Mathematics. to express (a mathematical quantity) as a product of two or more quantities of like kind, as 30 = 235, or x 2 − y 2 = (x +y ) (x − y ).

2. to act as a factor for.

verb (used without object)

• factors,
  present (3rd person singular)
• factored,
  past participle,  past
• factoring
  present participle

1. to act as a factor.

verb phrase

1. factor in / into to include as an essential element, especially in forecasting or planning.

   You must factor insurance payments into the cost of maintaining a car.

factor British  

/ ˈfæktə /

noun

1. an element or cause that contributes to a result

2. maths

   1. one of two or more integers or polynomials whose product is a given integer or polynomial

      2 and 3 are factors of 6

   2. an integer or polynomial that can be exactly divided into another integer or polynomial

      1, 2, 3, and 6 are all factors of 6

3. (foll by identifying numeral) med any of several substances that participate in the clotting of blood

   factor VIII

4. a person who acts on another's behalf, esp one who transacts business for another

5. commerce a business that makes loans in return for or on security of trade debts

6. former name for a gene

7. commercial law a person to whom goods are consigned for sale and who is paid a factorage

8. (in Scotland) the manager of an estate

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verb

1. (intr) to engage in the business of a factor

factor Scientific  

/ făk′tər /

1. One of two or more numbers or expressions that are multiplied to obtain a given product. For example, 2 and 3 are factors of 6, and a + b and a − b are factors of a ² − b ².

2. A substance found in the body, such as a protein, that is essential to a biological process. For example, growth factors are needed for proper cell growth and development.

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1. To find the factors of a number or expression. For example, the number 12 can be factored into 2 and 6, or 3 and 4, or 1 and 12.

Usage

Factor (sense 1) should only be used to refer to something which contributes to a result. It should not be used to refer to a part of something such as a plan or arrangement; instead a word such as component or element should be used

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• factorability
  noun
• factorship
  noun
• subfactor
  noun
• underfactor
  noun
• factorable
  adjective
• unfactorable
  adjective
• unfactored
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• factors
  plural

Participles

• factoring
  present
• factored
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• factor
  simple
• factors
  simple
• have factored
  perfect
• has factored
  perfect
• am factoring
  progressive
• are factoring
  progressive
• is factoring
  progressive
• have been factoring
  perfect progressive
• has been factoring
  perfect progressive

Past

• factored
  simple
• had factored
  perfect
• was factoring
  progressive
• were factoring
  progressive
• had been factoring
  perfect progressive

Future

• will factor
  simple
• will have factored
  perfect
• will be factoring
  progressive
• will have been factoring
  perfect progressive

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Etymology

Origin of factor

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English facto(u)r, from Latin factor “maker, perpetrator,” equivalent to fac(ere) “to make, do” + -tor agent noun suffix; see -tor

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Explanation

A factor is a part or element that contributes to a result. If you only fly budget airlines and refuse to stay anywhere but youth hostels, then money is probably a big factor in your travel plans. The word factor doubles as both noun and verb. A factor is an element that influences something, like many factors that contribute to global warming. To factor means to consider something relevant when making a decision or conclusion, like factoring in the weather and traffic when figuring out how long the drive will be. And if it's not relevant? Then you factor it out.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

factor factors factored factoring

The wild-card factor in Luna’s tale of survival, Boucher said, was how she first came to live with the couple.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 17, 2026

He’s not wrong that it’s a meaningful factor.

From Slate ● Oct. 17, 2026

Davidson analyst Gil Luria told MarketWatch that what used to be a negative correlation between chip stocks and software stocks is “no longer a major factor in the market.”

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 16, 2026

Cricket Australia's own website said the 27-year-old "got under Australia's skin" and described him as an "Aussie agitator", while South Africa coach Shukri Conrad admitted Breetzke's temperament was a factor in his inclusion.

From BBC ● Oct. 15, 2026

But in the short run, what she ate for breakfast wasn’t going to be the deciding factor.

From "Nine, Ten: A September 11 Story" by Nora Raleigh Baskin

He cited the Middle East situation, artificial-intelligence demand and foreign-exchange rates as factors that would affect the timing of the decision, without giving further specifics.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2026

The Dodgers were clearly outplayed by the Brewers in the NLCS, but there were several other factors behind the team’s failed World Series three-peat bid.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 16, 2026

"The patient safety incident investigation identified a number of contributing factors that led to the patient's death," they said at the time.

From BBC ● Oct. 16, 2026

What began with one unusually large crayfish and a disagreement between colleagues has now opened a new line of scientific inquiry into the biological factors that shape the size of these familiar freshwater creatures.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 16, 2026

Sex differences in the factors which predict musical attainment in school aged students.

From "Music and the Child" by Natalie Sarrazin

JPMorgan analyst Vivek Juneja called it a surprise after the bank earlier said the issue was already factored into the run rate.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 14, 2026

Television Academy Chairman Cris Abrego said Prime’s role as a TV hub factored into the decision.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 12, 2026

The equity market hasn’t really factored in that rates may need to stay higher.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 29, 2026

Any evidence of this type of activity can be judged by council assessors as a deliberate deprivation of assets, external and factored into their final figure of how much you should pay.

From BBC ● Sep. 13, 2026

The total financial package, moreover, once the Potomac location was factored into the equations, should make most Virginians smile.

From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis

That is the argument for factoring strategic investments into free cash flow.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 9, 2026

To maintains his 2026 Malaysia GDP growth estimate at 5.0% and expects 2027 growth at 4.5%, factoring in more moderate macroeconomic conditions.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 6, 2026

Even after factoring in risks related to operational and manufacturing execution, Bernstein forecasts over $40 billion in revenue for Celestica in 2027, exceeding consensus expectations of $35.5 billion.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 30, 2026

In places like Minneapolis and Des Moines, Iowa, insurers are factoring in hail and severe convective storms, ICE added, which is a “a peril that is frequently overlooked but is now driving double-digit increases.”

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 9, 2026

I’m really not in the mood to divvy up everything into eleven equal parts, factoring in age, body weight, and physical output.

From "Mockingjay" by Suzanne Collins

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Related Words

• aspect
• cause
• circumstance
• component
• consideration
• element
• influence
• ingredient
• part
• point
• thing

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