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

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

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

Women tend to live longer than men and age is the biggest risk factor for the fatal disease.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 27, 2026

In some cities that are losing kids, the falling birthrate is a bigger factor in the drop.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 27, 2026

The research focuses on hepatocyte growth factor, or HGF, a protein that helps initiate the repair of skeletal muscle.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 24, 2026

The gash on her forehead was determined to be superficial and not a contributing factor in her death.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 24, 2026

Looking into Sookie’s cooler, I thought about the choking factor of the rubbery meat, but lobster was one of my favorite meals.

From "The Line Tender" by Kate Allen

That didn’t happen to Solyndra, which ended up going under due to foreign competition and other factors.

From Slate ● Jul. 27, 2026

“Weak balance sheets, high-beta growth, and low quality earnings factors started to underperform even as the S&P 500 advanced and growth strengthened,” they said.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 27, 2026

The route someone follows depends on the basis of their immigration status and their individual circumstances, including factors such as family life, work, length of residence and private life in the UK.

From BBC ● Jul. 27, 2026

There are other, legal factors making the sport faster, advancements in technology, training and, notably but unglamorously, in-competition nutrition.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 27, 2026

All those extra factors certainly matter in the long term.

From "Blink" by Malcolm Gladwell

In 2019, a small but potent show at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art explored the ways in which her drawing process factored into her assemblage work.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 27, 2026

These results were more overt when the analysts factored in class and status dynamics.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 13, 2026

He added: "In targeting a small minority of properties, the revenues these new bands would bring in won't touch the sides, and that's before the administrative costs are factored in."

From BBC ● Jul. 6, 2026

The efficient-markets hypothesis, developed decades ago by economists at the University of Chicago, stipulates that all available information is already factored into the market price.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 25, 2026

What happens when the whistle-blowers’ corroborating evidence is factored into the analysis of the match data?

From "Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything" by Steven D. Levitt

Former Tottenham and Brentford boss Thomas Frank was linked to the Fulham job, while ex-Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna was deemed too expensive at £8m before factoring in his salary and staff costs.

From BBC ● Jul. 7, 2026

Figma charges on a per-seat basis, factoring in both the total head count and the tier of paid license required to access specific tools.

From Barron's ● Jun. 17, 2026

Hawk estimated that it would cost him four to five times more to sit in comparable seats in New York—even when factoring in the cost of travel a time zone away.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 28, 2026

“It’s unfortunately hard for consumers to know if they’re getting churned or if the newer product really is that much better for them, even after factoring in any relevant surrender charges.”

From MarketWatch ● May 27, 2026

It took ten minutes for him to re-create the solution he’d figured out with Mr. Keeney, this time factoring in the actual spacing between the two rock pillars which had been missing until now.

From "The Smartest Kid in the Universe" by Chris Grabenstein

Related Words

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