factor Meaning & Definition
What Does Factor Mean?
Factor is a noun that means one who acts or transacts business for another. It can also mean broker. As a verb, it means to work as a factor.
Word Facts for Factor
| Part of speech | noun, verb |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /ˈfak-tər/ |
| Syllables | 2 |
| Synonyms | component, element and agent |
| Antonyms | whole, aggregate and composite |
| Plural | factors |
| Verb forms | factors, factoring, factored |
Factor Definition (Noun)
- one who acts or transacts business for another: such as
- broker
- one that lends money to producers and dealers (as on the security of accounts receivable)
- one that actively contributes to the production of a result : ingredient
price wasn't a factor in the decision
- a substance that functions in or promotes the function of a particular physiological process or bodily system
a clotting factor that facilitates blood coagulation
- a good or service (such as land, labor, or capital) used in the process of production
- gene
- any of the numbers or symbols in mathematics that when multiplied together form a product see product
- a number or symbol that divides another number or symbol
- a quantity by which a given quantity is multiplied or divided in order to indicate a difference in measurement
costs increased by a factor of 10
Factor as a Verb
- to work as a factor
- to resolve into factors
- to include or admit as a factor
- to exclude as a factor
Synonyms of Factor
Antonyms of Factor
Factor in a Sentence
The factor of the trading post bought the furs.
The greatest factor in the decision was the need for public transportation.
The economy was a factor in this year's budget figures.
3 is a factor of 12, as are 2, 4 and 6.
The factors of the Klein four-group are both cyclic of order 2.
The formula adjusts for region and season by multiplying by a prescribed factor for each.
The launch temperature was a factor of the Challenger disaster.
price wasn't a factor in the decision
a clotting factor that facilitates blood coagulation
costs increased by a factor of 10
at the auction the high bidder for the painting was actually a factor for a wealthy art collector
price was only one factor in my decision to buy the car
you should factor in inflation in making investment decisions
Word Forms & Grammar
fac·tor·ship noun
factor
factors
factorship
factorships
fac·tored
fac·tor·ing
fac·tor·able adjective
factorable
factored
factoring
factor (in or into)
factor in
factor into
factor (plural factors)
factor (third-person singular simple present factors, present participle factoring, simple past and past participle factored)
Words That Rhyme With Factor
Origin of Factor
Origin 1: Middle English factour "doer, perpetrator, commercial agent," borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French, borrowed from Latin factor "maker, creator, perpetrator" (Medieval Latin, "commercial agent, broker"), from fac-, stem of facere "to make, bring about, perform, do" + -tor, agent suffix fact
Origin 2: verbal derivative of factor:1
Origin 3: Inherited from Middle English factour, from Middle French facteur, Anglo-Norman factour, and their etymon Latin factor (“a doer, maker, performer”), from factus (“done or made”), perfect passive participle of faciō (“do, make”).
First Known Use
15th century
1621i
How to Pronounce Factor
You say factor as /ˈfak-tər/. It has 2 syllables, with the main stress on the first syllable (fak).
Quick Answers About Factor
Is factor a noun or a verb?
Factor is mainly used as a noun, but it can also be used as a verb.
What is another word for factor?
You can replace factor with words such as component, element and agent. See the full list of factor synonyms and antonyms.
What is the opposite of factor?
Words opposite in meaning to factor are whole, aggregate, composite and compound.
What is the plural of factor?
The plural of factor is factors.
What is the past tense of factor?
The past tense of factor is factored. The present participle is factoring.