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

"The microbiome is emerging as an important factor in cancer care," said co-senior study author Marcel van den Brink, MD, PhD, chief physician executive at City of Hope.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 7, 2026

Another exacerbating factor is that from 2019-20 through 2024-25, enrollment and hiring moved in opposite direction.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 6, 2026

Maria Bailey feels being able to see the same GP was a factor in her own cervical cancer diagnosis.

From BBC ● Oct. 5, 2026

That also doesn’t factor in Sankar’s projections for exabyte demand to grow about 30% annually next year and in 2028.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 5, 2026

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

From "Music and the Child" by Natalie Sarrazin

Once a fringe movement, a number of factors pushed it to the forefront of Alberta politics.

From BBC ● Oct. 7, 2026

In any event, many factors play into the price of gasoline other than the price of crude, especially on the way down.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 6, 2026

“I also looked at just how happy UPSers were, and we do a culture survey every year, and we measure happiness along a number of factors, and it rolls up into a ‘likelihood to recommend.’

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 5, 2026

As well as broken or uneven steps, weak ankles or knees and inappropriate footwear, a variety of other factors can lead to falls, the CDC says.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 5, 2026

In fact, we shall see that, paradoxically, this large number of cultural factors makes it easier, not harder, to understand world patterns of technology.

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

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

Mizuho analyst Lloyd Walmsley wrote in a note to clients that Muse “marks the beginning of a substantial product cycle” that the market hasn’t factored into the stock price yet.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 9, 2026

That has consequences for the economy—because those products aren’t produced in the U.S., they are factored out of gross domestic product.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 28, 2026

Burton said the company has a fleet of about 200 trucks, 56 of which are now zero-emission, including hydrogen fuel cells and battery electrics whose charging time is factored into the logistics of the drive.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 27, 2026

“We haven’t factored in the time it’s going to get the files,” he said.

From "Boy 2.0" by Tracey Baptiste

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

It is unclear how this will shake out, in large part because board members are factoring in the risk of losing top executives if they don’t get the title.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 28, 2026

Non-EU member states and international financial institutions were supposed to contribute another $52 billion in loans for 2026-27, which Ukraine is currently factoring in.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 10, 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

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