factor
1 of 2noun
fac·tor ˈfak-tər 
1
: one who acts or transacts business for another: such as
a
: broker sense 1b
b
: one that lends money to producers and dealers (as on the security of accounts receivable)
2
a(1)
: one that actively contributes to the production of a result : ingredient
price wasn't a factor in the decision
(2)
: a substance that functions in or promotes the function of a particular physiological process or bodily system
a clotting factor that facilitates blood coagulation
b
: a good or service (such as land, labor, or capital) used in the process of production
3
: gene
4
a
: any of the numbers or symbols in mathematics that when multiplied together form a product (see product sense 1)
also : a number or symbol that divides another number or symbol
b
: 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
factorship
ˈfak-tər-ˌship
noun factor
2 of 2verb
factored; factoring ˈfak-t(ə-)riŋ
intransitive verb
: to work as a factor
transitive verb
1
: to resolve into factors
2
a
: to include or admit as a factor —used with in or into
factor inflation into our calculations
b
: to exclude as a factor —used with out
factorable
ˈfak-t(ə-)rə-bəl
adjective 
Did you know?
In Latin factor means simply "doer". So in English a factor is an "actor" or element or ingredient in some situation or quantity. Charm can be a factor in someone's success, and lack of exercise can be a factor in producing a poor physique. In math we use factor to mean a number that can be multiplied or divided to produce a given number (for example, 5 and 8 are factors of 40). And in biology a gene may be called a factor, since genes are ingredients in the total organism.
Synonyms
Noun
- agent
- assignee
- attorney
- commissary
- delegate
- deputy
- envoy
- minister
- procurator
- proxy
- rep
- representative
Verb
- allow (for)
- consider
- provide (for)
- regard
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Noun There were several factors contributing to their recent decline. Poor planning was a major factor in the company's failure. 6, 4, 3, and 2 are factors of 12.
Recent Examples on the Web
Melissa Ruggieri, USA TODAY, 6 Sep. 2022 Experts cite the strain of the Covid-19 pandemic as the biggest factor behind the union boom. Essence, 2 Sep. 2022 His defense attorneys are barred by court order from presenting that failure as a mitigating factor. Rafael Olmeda, Sun Sentinel, 1 Sep. 2022 After dating for nearly a year in 2011, the couple had an amicable spilt, citing the actor's demanding movie projects as the main factor. Grace Gavilanes, Peoplemag, 31 Aug. 2022 That conviction cannot be overlooked as a factor Saturday night. Nathan Baird, cleveland, 31 Aug. 2022 Impairment is being investigated as a factor in the crash, officials said. The Oregonian/oregonlive, oregonlive, 29 Aug. 2022 To provide a sustainable source, Carbominer’s machine - now in prototype - extracts carbon from the air outside and feeds it into the greenhouse, with energy efficiency as a key factor. Trevor Clawson, Forbes, 26 Aug. 2022 For a patient that is borderline between a high or intermediate risk, that score could be used as another determining factor. Jen Christensen, CNN, 23 Aug. 2022 Cat Zakrzewski, Washington Post, 29 Aug. 2022 Any cost increases resulting from the change would factor into the final decision on whether to move forward with Opportunity Corridor or pursue another location, Abonamah said. Courtney Astolfi, cleveland, 24 Aug. 2022 People who have left the workforce entirely don’t factor into the unemployment rate. Mike Gousha And John D. Johnson, Journal Sentinel, 30 June 2022 Existing rip-current forecasts also tend to cover large areas and often don’t factor in a beach’s underlying morphology, which limits their value for any specific beach, Houser says. Chloe Williams, The Atlantic, 20 June 2022 Any further extension of the student loan pause may have to factor that in. Adam S. Minsky, Forbes, 15 Aug. 2022 That means security analysts will now have to factor Xi’s personal ambitions and political calculations into their projections of Chinese global policy. Michael Schuman, The Atlantic, 21 June 2022 The upcoming academic year presented an unusual challenge for system leaders, who had to factor in shifting revenue sources including the state’s Blueprint plan and federal COVID relief dollars. Lillian Reed, Baltimore Sun, 13 May 2022 As Thomas gets back to form, Miller has to factor that in. Shreyas Laddha, Hartford Courant, 9 Apr. 2022 See More
Noun
In 2020, megastar K-pop band BTS postponed their world tour and cited burnout as a factor. Melissa Ruggieri, USA TODAY, 6 Sep. 2022 Experts cite the strain of the Covid-19 pandemic as the biggest factor behind the union boom. Essence, 2 Sep. 2022 His defense attorneys are barred by court order from presenting that failure as a mitigating factor. Rafael Olmeda, Sun Sentinel, 1 Sep. 2022 After dating for nearly a year in 2011, the couple had an amicable spilt, citing the actor's demanding movie projects as the main factor. Grace Gavilanes, Peoplemag, 31 Aug. 2022 That conviction cannot be overlooked as a factor Saturday night. Nathan Baird, cleveland, 31 Aug. 2022 Impairment is being investigated as a factor in the crash, officials said. The Oregonian/oregonlive, oregonlive, 29 Aug. 2022 To provide a sustainable source, Carbominer’s machine - now in prototype - extracts carbon from the air outside and feeds it into the greenhouse, with energy efficiency as a key factor. Trevor Clawson, Forbes, 26 Aug. 2022 For a patient that is borderline between a high or intermediate risk, that score could be used as another determining factor. Jen Christensen, CNN, 23 Aug. 2022 Verb
The subpoena, which became public Monday, signals how Zatko’s allegations could factor into the litigation in Delaware’s Chancery Court between Musk and Twitter of the Tesla CEO’s efforts to back out of his pledge to acquire the social network. Cat Zakrzewski, Washington Post, 29 Aug. 2022 Any cost increases resulting from the change would factor into the final decision on whether to move forward with Opportunity Corridor or pursue another location, Abonamah said. Courtney Astolfi, cleveland, 24 Aug. 2022 People who have left the workforce entirely don’t factor into the unemployment rate. Mike Gousha And John D. Johnson, Journal Sentinel, 30 June 2022 Existing rip-current forecasts also tend to cover large areas and often don’t factor in a beach’s underlying morphology, which limits their value for any specific beach, Houser says. Chloe Williams, The Atlantic, 20 June 2022 Any further extension of the student loan pause may have to factor that in. Adam S. Minsky, Forbes, 15 Aug. 2022 That means security analysts will now have to factor Xi’s personal ambitions and political calculations into their projections of Chinese global policy. Michael Schuman, The Atlantic, 21 June 2022 The upcoming academic year presented an unusual challenge for system leaders, who had to factor in shifting revenue sources including the state’s Blueprint plan and federal COVID relief dollars. Lillian Reed, Baltimore Sun, 13 May 2022 As Thomas gets back to form, Miller has to factor that in. Shreyas Laddha, Hartford Courant, 9 Apr. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Noun
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 — more at fact
Verb
verbal derivative of factor entry 1
First Known Use
Noun
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
1621, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense
Phrases Containing factor
Kids Definition
factor 1 of 2
noun
fac·tor ˈfak-tər
1
: something that helps produce a result
Price was a factor in my decision.
2
: any of the numbers that when multiplied together form a product
The factors of 6 are 1, 2, 3, and 6.
factor
2 of 2verb
factored; factoring
1
: to be considered in making a judgment
Class participation will factor into your grade.
2
: to find the factors of a number
Medical Definition
factor
noun
fac·tor ˈfak-tər
1
a
: something that actively contributes to the production of a result
b
: a substance that functions in or promotes the function of a particular physiological process or bodily system
2
: gene
Legal Definition
factor
noun
fac·tor
1
: one who acts or transacts business for another: as
a
: a commercial agent who buys or sells goods for others on commission
b
: one that lends money to producers and dealers (as on the security of accounts receivable)
2
: a person or thing that actively contributes to the production of a result
a difference in salary based on a factor other than sex
factor
noun
1
as in agent
a person who acts or does business for another at the auction the high bidder for the painting was actually a factor for a wealthy art collector Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- agent
- delegate
- representative
- deputy
- proxy
- attorney
- minister
- manager
- rep
- ambassador
- foreign minister
- commissary
- spokesperson
- envoy
- operative
- surrogate
- sub
- diplomat
- substitute
- assignee
- replacement
- alternate
- procurator
- mediator
- spokesman
- speaker
- distributor
- arbiter
- relief
- intermediary
- pinch hitter
- backup
- arbitrator
- diplomatist
- liaison
- plenipotentiary
- spy
- point man
- emissary
- middleman
- informer
- broker
- understudy
- stand-in
- legate
- point person
- peacemaker
- conciliator
- prophet
- mouthpiece
- go-between
- intercessor
- compradore
- comprador
- interposer
2
as in component
one of the parts that make up a whole price was only one factor in my decision to buy the car Synonyms & Similar Words
- component
- element
- ingredient
- member
- basis
- characteristic
- aspect
- constituent
- trait
- feature
- particular
- building block
- facet
- item
- detail
- section
- segment
- portion
- point
- sector
- part and parcel
- division
- piece
- fragment
- particle
- partition
- subcomponent
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- whole
- compound
- sum
- total
- mass
- composite
- combination
- aggregate
- summation
- mixture
- mix
- totality
- entirety
- blend
- admixture
- amalgam
- amalgamation
- intermixture