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

Etymology

Origin of factory

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

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

Even so, sector analysts estimate a brand-new factory would take four years at a minimum, which is a long time in the AI world.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 2, 2026

The company builds some Volkswagen-branded vehicles at a small factory in Tennessee, but has been criticized for selling tweaked versions of European products designed in Germany—seemingly never with enough cupholders for American families.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 2, 2026

In 2001, the actor turned his real estate sights across the pond and picked up a $1 million London loft in a converted jam factory.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 1, 2026

"It's been a factory. A factory of creativity."

From BBC ● Aug. 31, 2026

If this continued, the herd would produce less milk, the farm would lose money, and Mr. Shareef would send Roz back to the factory.

From "The Wild Robot Escapes" by Peter Brown

“That means domestic factories, good jobs and training here at home, job security and strong industrial regions.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 2, 2026

Clayco and Turner subsidiary xPL Offsite make modular electrical and mechanical rooms at off-site factories, then truck them to data centers for installation.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 1, 2026

Xu took to a stage in Guangdong, home to many of China's garment factories, to re-affirm his company's ties to Beijing.

From BBC ● Aug. 31, 2026

Shein has grown hugely popular, especially with younger customers, due to its ability to source the very latest fashions at ultra-low prices through a vast network of factories in China.

From BBC ● Aug. 31, 2026

Even then, the company could borrow money, hire new employees, build new factories and buy new machinery.

From "Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind" by Yuval Noah Harari

Related Words

• branch
• cooperative
• firm
• industry
• laboratory
• mill
• shop
• workshop