factory

noun

fac·​to·​ry ˈfak-t(ə-)rē How to pronounce factory (audio)
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
factorylike adjective

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 The Chips Act set aside $39 billion in grants — plus loans and guarantees worth $75 billion — to convince chip companies to build factories on American soil. Bloomberg, The Mercury News, 20 Mar. 2024 His message is a direct challenge to former President Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee, who raised tariffs while in the White House and wants to do so again on the promise of protecting U.S. factory jobs from China. CBS News, 20 Mar. 2024 Production and logistics chief Gerd Walker said the brand aims to reduce factory costs by 50% compared to pre-pandemic levels by 2033, with early retirement offers helping to trim labor costs and synergies between other Volkswagen AG brands playing a key role. Monica Raymunt, Fortune Europe, 19 Mar. 2024 In addition to the factory price cuts, dealers are starting to wheel and deal on electric car inventory that has sat around on the lot for a few months. Bradley Brownell / Jalopnik, Quartz, 18 Mar. 2024 The Russian leader has for the short term sanction-proofed his economy; his ammunition factories are outproducing the US and its European allies and the political landscape has been cleared of all competition. Nathan Hodge, CNN, 18 Mar. 2024 And like other in-person industries, factories struggled to find skilled workers, leading many employees to switch jobs for big raises. Paul Davidson, USA TODAY, 18 Mar. 2024 Morgan Stanley’s Adam Jonas was so concerned about Rivian stretching itself too thin last month that the analyst looked for any signal that plans to build a dedicated R2 factory in Georgia for $5 billion had changed in light of the recent EV market slowdown. Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 7 Mar. 2024 Production was halted at the factory after the attack on a nearby electricity pylon cut power to the facility. Jess Weatherbed, The Verge, 6 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'factory.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

fact(or) entry 1 + -ory entry 1; in sense 1 after Portuguese feitoria; in sense 2 perhaps short for manufactory

First Known Use

1582, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of factory was in 1582

Dictionary Entries Near factory

Cite this Entry

“Factory.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/factory. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

factory

noun
fac·​to·​ry ˈfak-t(ə-)rē How to pronounce factory (audio)
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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