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

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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

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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

Farzin Nadimi, an Iran-focused senior fellow with the Washington Institute, a U.S. think tank, said Tehran will also have to factor in the likelihood of U.S. and Israeli retaliation.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 23, 2026

He has vowed to sue Airbnb if it engages in price gouging, and he knows the Los Angeles Police Department is a major factor in the city’s rising litigation costs.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 23, 2026

Although having this variant does not mean someone will necessarily develop the disease, it is the strongest known genetic risk factor for late-onset Alzheimer's.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 22, 2026

Another potential factor in the Treasury rally could be technical.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 22, 2026

No other coloring played a major factor in my calculations.

From "The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl" by Stacy McAnulty

Other factors, including cosmic dust and the masses of galaxies, can influence the light astronomers receive from distant supernovae and therefore affect distance measurements.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 23, 2026

WSJ | Buy Side: To find the best balance transfer cards, we prioritized factors that matter most: a long time to pay down your debt and low fees.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 22, 2026

It heard investment could be diverted to Great Britain, Ireland and other European markets where existing factors were seen as more certain.

From BBC ● Oct. 22, 2026

The scramble for safety was attributed to a confluence of factors suddenly plaguing the market all at once.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 22, 2026

Did the factors acting in the encounter of Atahuallpa and Pizarro also play a broader role in encounters between Old World and New World peoples and between other peoples?

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

Television Academy Chairman Cris Abrego said Prime’s role as a TV hub factored into the decision.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 12, 2026

“Any weakness in growth will be factored into the forecast for inflation,” the minutes said, in reference to a new quarterly Bank of Canada outlook coming next month.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 16, 2026

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

“Once I checked the train timetables and factored in how long it would take to get to the airport, I knew I wouldn’t get a chance to eat otherwise,” she said before taking another bite.

From "City Spies" by James Ponti

The company continues to expect its investment in property and equipment to rise this year, factoring in increased spending on IT and trucking as well as efforts to replace a facility in Atlanta.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 14, 2026

To maintains his 2026 Malaysia GDP growth estimate at 5.0% and expects 2027 growth at 4.5%, factoring in more moderate macroeconomic conditions.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 6, 2026

The company initially thought it could make a game for about 20% more than the cost in China, after factoring in shipping, said Adam Hocherman, WS Game’s director of new business development.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 29, 2026

If he sold the condo right now, he could lose the $58,000 he put down, and possibly more after factoring in broker fees and closing costs.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 18, 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

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