factory

UK: /ˈfæktəri/ US: /ˈfæktəri/ ,(fak′tə rē, -trē)

Inflections of 'factory' (n): npl: factories

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

fac•to•ry /ˈfæktəri/   n. [countable] , pl. -ries. 

1. a building or group of buildings with facilities for the manufacture of goods.

See -fac-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

fac•to•ry  (fak′tə rē, -trē), n., pl. -ries. 

1. a building or group of buildings with facilities for the manufacture of goods.
2. any place producing a uniform product, without concern for individuality:
   They call it a law school, but it's just a degree factory.
3. Business (formerly) an establishment for factors and merchants carrying on business in a foreign country.

• Medieval Latin factōria. See factor, -y³
• 1550–60

fac′to•ry•like′, adj. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

factory / ˈfæktərɪ/ noun ( -ries)

1. a building or group of buildings containing a plant assembly for the manufacture of goods
2. (as modifier): a factory worker

Etymology: 16th Century: from Late Latin factorium; see factor

ˈfactory-ˌlike adjective