factory
noun
fac·to·ry
ˈfak-t(ə-)rē 
plural factories
1
: a building or set of buildings with facilities for manufacturing
a car factory
—often used before another nounfactory workers
a factory building
—often used figurativelya college accused of being a diploma factory
2
archaic
: a station where factors reside and trade
a colonial factory
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
According to an official from the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA), around 250 garment factories have shut down over the past 18 months, resulting in more than 220,000 job losses.
—
Mayu Saini, Sourcing Journal, 10 Feb. 2026
This data point might be easier to dismiss if the modern mill and factory owners hadn’t already declared that AI will put people out of work permanently.
—Josh Tyrangiel, The Atlantic, 10 Feb. 2026
Abueslamid questioned whether Ford's plant in Hermosillo, Mexico, has the capacity to build enough Bronco Sports to absorb all of the Escape customers because Ford also produces the Maverick small pickup at that factory.
—Jamie L. Lareau, USA Today, 10 Feb. 2026
Prior to that, Blaževičius made his feature directorial debut with The Saint, a drama following a factory worker who loses his job during the financial crisis in 2008 and winds up meeting a YouTuber who claims to have met Jesus.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 10 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for factory
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Mayu Saini, Sourcing Journal, 10 Feb. 2026
This data point might be easier to dismiss if the modern mill and factory owners hadn’t already declared that AI will put people out of work permanently.
—Josh Tyrangiel, The Atlantic, 10 Feb. 2026
Abueslamid questioned whether Ford's plant in Hermosillo, Mexico, has the capacity to build enough Bronco Sports to absorb all of the Escape customers because Ford also produces the Maverick small pickup at that factory.
—Jamie L. Lareau, USA Today, 10 Feb. 2026
Prior to that, Blaževičius made his feature directorial debut with The Saint, a drama following a factory worker who loses his job during the financial crisis in 2008 and winds up meeting a YouTuber who claims to have met Jesus.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 10 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for factory
Cite this Entry
“Factory.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/factory. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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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