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

GM has laid off thousands of factory workers since last year and its factory utilization rate—an important factor for profitability—has declined to 73% this year from 78.5% in 2024, according to AutoForecast Solutions.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 21, 2026

"This excess in supply is also likely an additional factor serving to weigh on global sovereign debt markets with some investors preferring to invest in Big Tech as opposed to indebted sovereigns."

From Barron's ● Aug. 21, 2026

He said some had claimed bad weather was the biggest factor in a reduction of crossings this year.

From BBC ● Aug. 20, 2026

That’s a bigger factor Thursday than any notion of the market “rejecting” the increased U.S.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 20, 2026

In the aural transmission process, modeling is a key factor.

From "Music and the Child" by Natalie Sarrazin

"The Court concluded that the litigation had been pursued in a way that took it 'well outside the norm'," the summary of the ruling said, noting "the gravity of the allegations" among other factors.

From Barron's ● Aug. 21, 2026

Many factors can influence vaccine response, including age, sex, genetics, previous illnesses and underlying health conditions.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 21, 2026

The lounges were ranked on eight factors: value; staff; food and beverage; cleanliness/upkeep; amenities; ease of access; ambiance and Wi-Fi.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 21, 2026

It’s unclear what factors led to the crash and a medical examiner’s report is still underway, but safe street advocates are pointing to the death as one reason the road improvement project is overdue.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 21, 2026

Only a modest number of factors determines whether a mammal is suitable for domestication.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond

If inflation is factored in, sales were not quite as rosy as they look.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 14, 2026

Moving forward climate change must be factored into how people think about access and support, Emily Davison said.

From BBC ● Aug. 11, 2026

Jen Rutherford, Play Strategy Officer for Leeds City Council, works to ensure children's access to play is factored into wider council decisions, and says it is limiting to just think about playgrounds.

From BBC ● Aug. 4, 2026

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

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 13, 2026

The water was blue and full of chlorine, and my eyes stung, but I factored the equation and realized I was upside down and all I had to do was right myself and swim up.

From "The Lions of Little Rock" by Kristin Levine

Phillip Securities Research raises its rating to buy from accumulate and lifts its target price to 7.21 Singapore dollars from S$7.00 after factoring in contributions from Sembcorp’s acquisition of Alinta Energy.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 20, 2026

His office also is creating public messaging to deploy in various scenarios and factoring the potential dynamics around prediction markets into security planning.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 12, 2026

The skepticism also extended beyond data centers, factoring in previous economic development promises that never quite lived up.

From Slate ● Aug. 6, 2026

Some shorten that to age 63, which is the last tax year before Medicare starts factoring your income into how much your annual premiums cost.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 28, 2026

The bus ride down Arlington Avenue was extremely short, so Jake amused himself by silently factoring percentages for passengers versus bus capacity and average number of potholes per city block.

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

Related Words

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