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

One other factor leading to higher prices is the continued disruption to mine supply.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 11, 2026

Lynch is running again in the special election but is not expected to be a major factor.

From Slate ● Aug. 11, 2026

For Leboncoin's marketing director Sophie Bourg, heatwaves are now "firmly recognised as a structural factor in housing choices" in France.

From Barron's ● Aug. 11, 2026

His leadership capabilities were also seen as a positive factor.

From BBC ● Aug. 10, 2026

Since Nobel Prizes are never awarded posthumously, longevity can be as important a factor as ingenuity for prizewinners.

From "A Short History of Nearly Everything" by Bill Bryson

There are several factors which precipitated what many see as the downfall of Forest City.

From BBC ● Aug. 11, 2026

It said insured wildfire losses had risen by 8-11 percent per year in Europe since 1970 after adjusting for inflation and other factors.

From Barron's ● Aug. 11, 2026

Barton told me value is one of the more important factors for current shoppers, and the chain is focused on its prices as a result.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 10, 2026

Analysts have linked the post-IPO weakness to a variety of factors, including concerns over SpaceX’s valuation and the company’s hefty spending on artificial intelligence.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 10, 2026

Chapter 4 sketches how food production—that is, the growing of food by agriculture or herding, instead of the hunting and gathering of wild foods—ultimately led to the immediate factors permitting Pizarro’s triumph.

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

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

From BBC ● Aug. 11, 2026

In addition, the CMA factored in the competition brought by streaming services to traditional forms of movie and TV distribution — one of Paramount’s key arguments.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 6, 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

Comcast for its part sharply denied that future potential deals factored into its plan.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 30, 2026

Nathan factored into his data collection the fact that the modern corn in the square shape had two more weeks to grow than the traditional corn in the circular shape.

From "Healer of the Water Monster" by Brian Young

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

From Slate ● Aug. 6, 2026

The company said it expected a roughly 5% increase in organic revenues, when factoring out things like currency fluctuations.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 28, 2026

Cooper says even many schools being built this decade are not factoring in heat.

From BBC ● Jun. 22, 2026

The on-time arrival performance from driverless trucks reached 99%, after factoring out uncontrollable variables like weather and traffic.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 8, 2026

I’m really not in the mood to divvy up everything into eleven equal parts, factoring in age, body weight, and physical output.

From "Mockingjay" by Suzanne Collins

Related Words

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