factory
FAK-tuh-ree
Factory (noun) means a building where goods are manufactured, usually on a large scale using machinery. Example: “The car factory employs over two thousand workers.”
noun
1
A building where goods are manufactured, usually on a large scale using machinery.
"The car factory employs over two thousand workers."
"The old textile factory by the canal has been turned into flats."
"My uncle works night shifts at a chocolate factory on the edge of town."
adj
1
In the original condition as supplied by the manufacturer; not modified.
"The car still has its factory paint job."
"Reset the phone to its factory settings before you sell it."
"The bike still has its factory tyres, even after five years of use."
How to use factory
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA building where things are manufactured, or (as an adjective) original/unmodified from the manufacturer.
Common pairings
car factory
factory settings
factory worker
factory floor
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Word forms
- Plural
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The car _____ employs over two thousand workers.
Etymology
Probably from factor plus the suffix -y, likely shaped by association with Latin facere, "to make."
Synonyms
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Rhymes for factory
See all rhymes for factory →Frequently asked questions
What does “factory” mean?
The word “factory” means a building where goods are manufactured, usually on a large scale using machinery. In plain terms, a building where things are manufactured, or (as an adjective) original/unmodified from the manufacturer.
How do you pronounce “factory”?
“Factory” is pronounced FAK-tuh-ree (/ˈfæk.tɚ.i/ in IPA).
How do you use “factory” in a sentence?
Here is “factory” used in a sentence: “The car factory employs over two thousand workers.”
What part of speech is “factory”?
Depending on how it is used, “factory” can be a noun and an adjective.
Where does the word “factory” come from?
The word “factory” comes from Latin. Probably from factor plus the suffix -y, likely shaped by association with Latin facere, "to make.".
Is “factory” a common word?
“Factory” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “factory” have?
“Factory” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a building where goods are manufactured, usually on a large scale using machinery.
What is the difference between a factory and a plant?
The words often overlap, but a factory usually refers to a single building where goods are assembled or produced. A plant tends to describe a larger industrial site, sometimes several buildings, especially where power or heavy processing is involved, such as a chemical plant. Loosely, every factory is a plant, but not every plant is a factory.
What are the types of factories?
Factories are usually classed by what they make or how they work. Examples include car assembly plants, textile mills, food-processing factories, and steelworks. Some are highly automated, run largely by robots and machinery, while others rely more on manual assembly lines. The common thread is large-scale production under one roof.
What is an example of a factory?
A car factory is a familiar example, where parts move along an assembly line and vehicles are built in large numbers. Other examples include clothing factories, bottling plants, and electronics factories. Each brings together raw materials, machinery, and workers to manufacture finished goods efficiently and on a large scale.
Why are factories important?
Factories allow goods to be made quickly, in large quantities, and at lower cost than by hand. They concentrate machinery, materials, and labour in one place, driving mass production and shaping modern economies since the Industrial Revolution. They also create jobs and supply the everyday products people rely on.
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