factory

American  

[fak-tuh-ree, -tree] / ˈfæk tə ri, -tri /

noun

• factories
  plural

1. a building or group of buildings with facilities for the manufacture of goods.

2. any place producing a uniform product, without concern for individuality.

   They call it a law school, but it's just a degree factory.

3. (formerly) an establishment for factors and merchants carrying on business in a foreign country.

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factory British  

/ ˈfæktərɪ /

noun

1. 1. a building or group of buildings containing a plant assembly for the manufacture of goods

   2. ( as modifier )

      a factory worker

2. rare a trading station maintained by factors in a foreign country

3. (formerly) a main trading station for the exchange and transshipment of furs

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• subfactory
  noun
• factory-like
  adjective
• factorylike
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• factories
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of factory

From the Medieval Latin word factōria, dating back to 1550–60. See factor, -y ³

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Explanation

A factory is a big building in which products are made, like Willie Wonka's fictional Chocolate Factory, which was famous for producing (among other sweets and treats) the one-of-a-kind Everlasting Gobstopper. Early relatives of the word factory were in use as far back as the 1500s, long before the Industrial Revolution made the modern idea of a factory a reality. Of course, a big building with many different types of machinery inside it isn't the only definition of a factory. A successful pop group that scores several number one songs in a row could be called "a hit factory."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

factory factories

This durability could be especially valuable for wearable devices, factory equipment, and sensors operating outdoors.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 23, 2026

Besides robotaxi and AI, Tesla is heavily investing in Musk's "Optimus" humanoid robots as well as the buildout jointly with SpaceX of a large chip factory in Austin.

From Barron's ● Oct. 21, 2026

For her documentary, Khosla aimed to follow a tree from high country to factory smokestack.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 21, 2026

The chip factory, called Terafab, was the object of some of Musk's most effusive and self-boosting language on Wednesday.

From Barron's ● Oct. 21, 2026

“You are going to travel to the middle of a factory fire,” Tramble said.

From "Glitch" by Laura Martin

In the sprawling former industrial city of Osasco, shuttered factories have given way to a shopping malls and delivery app tech companies in what is now dubbed São Paulo's "Silicon Valley."

From BBC ● Oct. 24, 2026

Miller Holding also operates a network of Venezuelan cement factories and markets coffee beans, concessions granted under Maduro.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 23, 2026

This part of the American Midwest was hit badly by last century's de-industrialisation, when those laid off from its once prolific factories sought work on the coasts or migrated to warmer, southern states.

From BBC ● Oct. 21, 2026

Some have touted "industrial AI" as a possible avenue for Europe since its renowned machine makers -- such as Germany's Siemens and France's Schneider Electric -- have products installed in factories worldwide.

From Barron's ● Oct. 21, 2026

Worldly residents and new wealth meant expanding factories, fashionable shops, and successful banks.

From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock

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