factory
noun
fac·to·ry
ˈfak-t(ə-)rē 
plural factories
1
: a station where factors reside and trade
a colonial factory
2
a
: a building or set of buildings with facilities for manufacturing
b
: the seat of some kind of production
the vice factories of the slums
Examples of factory in a Sentence
She got a job in the factory.
the new factory will create hundreds of much-needed jobs
Recent Examples on the Web
Set in the garment factories of Delhi, Anuja tells the story of a gifted nine-year-old girl who is offered the rare opportunity to attend school — forcing her to make a life-altering decision that will shape her and her sister’s futures.
—
Matt Grobar, Deadline, 27 May 2025
In this cognitive factory, serious thought has gone into best practices.
—Joshua Rothman, New Yorker, 27 May 2025
An employee works on a vehicle crankshaft production line at a factory which produces engine parts in Binzhou, in eastern China’s Shandong province on March 14, 2025.
—Anniek Bao, CNBC, 27 May 2025
Output of factories has more than doubled since 1979 despite the much lower employment level.
—Bill Conerly, Forbes.com, 27 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for factory
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Matt Grobar, Deadline, 27 May 2025
In this cognitive factory, serious thought has gone into best practices.
—Joshua Rothman, New Yorker, 27 May 2025
An employee works on a vehicle crankshaft production line at a factory which produces engine parts in Binzhou, in eastern China’s Shandong province on March 14, 2025.
—Anniek Bao, CNBC, 27 May 2025
Output of factories has more than doubled since 1979 despite the much lower employment level.
—Bill Conerly, Forbes.com, 27 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for factory
Cite this Entry
“Factory.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/factory. Accessed 1 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
factory
noun
fac·to·ry
ˈfak-t(ə-)rē
plural factories
: a building or set of buildings equipped for manufacturing
Etymology
from early French factorie "a place where business is carried on," derived from Latin factor "one that does or makes," from factus, past participle of facere "to make, do" — related to fashion, manufacture
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