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Definition of factory
factory
/ˈfæk.tɚ.i/
fac · to · ry
Plural:factories
factory Lexical Profile
CEFR
A2
Grade
3
Tier
1
Usage
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Wordle Guess
• noun
1
A building or group of buildings where goods are manufactured or assembled primarily by machinery.
Example
"The automobile company opened a new factory to significantly increase its production of electric vehicles."
2
A trading post or station established by merchants in a foreign country.
Example
"During the 17th century, the East India Company established a heavily fortified factory on the coast of India."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for factory• Rhymes for factory
Word Origin & Etymology
Late 16th century (denoting a merchant's trading station): via Portuguese 'feitoria' or from late Latin 'factorium' (an oil press), from Latin 'factor' (doer, maker), from 'facere' (to make). The modern sense of a manufacturing plant emerged in the early 17th century.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Factory. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 15, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/factory