factor
Americannoun
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factors
plural
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one of the elements contributing to a particular result or situation.
Poverty is only one of the factors in crime.
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Mathematics. one of two or more numbers, algebraic expressions, or the like, that when multiplied together produce a given product; a divisor.
6 and 3 are factors of 18.
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Biochemistry. any of certain substances necessary to a biochemical or physiological process, especially those whose exact nature and function are unknown.
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a business organization that lends money on accounts receivable or buys and collects accounts receivable.
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a person who acts or transacts business for another; an agent.
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an agent entrusted with the possession of goods to be sold in the agent's name; a merchant earning a commission by selling goods belonging to others.
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a person or business organization that provides money for another's new business venture; one who finances another's business.
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Scot. the steward or bailiff of an estate.
verb (used with object)
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factors,
present (3rd person singular)
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factored,
past participle, past
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factoring
present participle
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Mathematics. to express (a mathematical quantity) as a product of two or more quantities of like kind, as 30 = 235, or x 2 − y 2 = (x +y ) (x − y ).
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to act as a factor for.
verb (used without object)
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factors,
present (3rd person singular)
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factored,
past participle, past
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factoring
present participle
verb phrase
noun
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an element or cause that contributes to a result
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maths
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one of two or more integers or polynomials whose product is a given integer or polynomial
2 and 3 are factors of 6
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an integer or polynomial that can be exactly divided into another integer or polynomial
1, 2, 3, and 6 are all factors of 6
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(foll by identifying numeral) med any of several substances that participate in the clotting of blood
factor VIII
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a person who acts on another's behalf, esp one who transacts business for another
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commerce a business that makes loans in return for or on security of trade debts
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former name for a gene
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commercial law a person to whom goods are consigned for sale and who is paid a factorage
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(in Scotland) the manager of an estate
verb
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One of two or more numbers or expressions that are multiplied to obtain a given product. For example, 2 and 3 are factors of 6, and a + b and a − b are factors of a 2 − b 2.
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A substance found in the body, such as a protein, that is essential to a biological process. For example, growth factors are needed for proper cell growth and development.
Usage
Factor (sense 1) should only be used to refer to something which contributes to a result. It should not be used to refer to a part of something such as a plan or arrangement; instead a word such as component or element should be used
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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factorabilitynoun
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factorshipnoun
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subfactornoun
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underfactornoun
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factorableadjective
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unfactorableadjective
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unfactoredadjective
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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factorsimple
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factorssimple
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have factoredperfect
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has factoredperfect
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am factoringprogressive
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are factoringprogressive
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is factoringprogressive
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have been factoringperfect progressive
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has been factoringperfect progressive
Past
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factoredsimple
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had factoredperfect
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was factoringprogressive
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were factoringprogressive
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had been factoringperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of factor
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English facto(u)r, from Latin factor “maker, perpetrator,” equivalent to fac(ere) “to make, do” + -tor agent noun suffix; see -tor
Explanation
A factor is a part or element that contributes to a result. If you only fly budget airlines and refuse to stay anywhere but youth hostels, then money is probably a big factor in your travel plans. The word factor doubles as both noun and verb. A factor is an element that influences something, like many factors that contribute to global warming. To factor means to consider something relevant when making a decision or conclusion, like factoring in the weather and traffic when figuring out how long the drive will be. And if it's not relevant? Then you factor it out.
Vocabulary lists containing factor
Jim Burke's Academic Vocabulary List
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The SAT: Language of the Test, List 4
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Make Do: Fac
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Another factor, according to a former Navy operations officer, is that some of the usual local vendors, especially of fresh food, cut back their supplies, fearing that they too would be attacked by Iran.
From Slate ● Aug. 19, 2026
"Musiala hasn't been much of a factor in the past 18 months," said German football expert Constantin Eckner.
From BBC ● Aug. 19, 2026
While the researchers acknowledge that responding quickly to professional inquiries is likely a bigger factor for freelancers than it is for those seeking full-time work, they believe their study offers lessons for all job seekers.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 18, 2026
A cause of death was not revealed, but an autopsy Monday found no signs of trauma that would have been a contributing factor.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 18, 2026
The whole question is so fraught with stereotype that we often resist exploring difference so as not to be limited in interest or talent by ethnicity, gender, sexuality, or any other factor outside our control.
From "Drama High" by Michael Sokolove
There are however a few factors that could point to another warm spell in September.
From BBC ● Aug. 19, 2026
This gauge measures factors like hedge-fund positioning, cash levels among portfolio managers, money flows into stocks versus bonds and credit-market technicals.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 19, 2026
Since we already know that positively weighting factors such as value or quality have worked, avoiding others by default, maybe so.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 19, 2026
Some Asian American communities may also face risk factors that scientists have not yet identified.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 19, 2026
On top of its self-generated shortcomings, Shenandoah has a lot of problems arising from factors largely beyond its control.
From "A Walk in the Woods" by Bill Bryson
Morgan analyst Joseph Cardoso noted that Lumentum’s management signaled that there are opportunities in the pipeline around lasers and other optical equipment that largely aren’t yet factored into the company’s broader financial targets.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 12, 2026
Another said they decided against buying tickets as it would cost his family "more than a holiday" when travel and accommodation for one night was factored in.
From BBC ● Aug. 11, 2026
In 2019, a small but potent show at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art explored the ways in which her drawing process factored into her assemblage work.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 27, 2026
Fed rate-increase prospects still could limit any rallies, though these expectations have been mostly factored in, the chief precious metals analyst says.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 10, 2026
The water was blue and full of chlorine, and my eyes stung, but I factored the equation and realized I was upside down and all I had to do was right myself and swim up.
From "The Lions of Little Rock" by Kristin Levine
It is GM, they say, that is the bigger overall contributor to the U.S. workforce, when factoring in salaried employees as well as hourly workers.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 15, 2026
His office also is creating public messaging to deploy in various scenarios and factoring the potential dynamics around prediction markets into security planning.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 12, 2026
The skepticism also extended beyond data centers, factoring in previous economic development promises that never quite lived up.
From Slate ● Aug. 6, 2026
Skogmo estimated major expenses like game tickets, airfare and lodging have already cost the group up to $5,000 — even before factoring in food and drinks.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 24, 2026
I’m really not in the mood to divvy up everything into eleven equal parts, factoring in age, body weight, and physical output.
From "Mockingjay" by Suzanne Collins
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
