Factory

Definition

Factory is a noun that refers to a building or set of buildings where goods are manufactured or assembled, typically using machinery. It is also used metaphorically to describe a place where things are produced in large quantities.

Parts of Speech

• Noun

Pronunciation

American English

• IPA Pronunciation: /ˈfæktəri/ or /ˈfæktri/
• Respelling: FAK-tuh-ree or FAK-tree

British English

• IPA Pronunciation: /ˈfæktəri/
• Respelling: FAK-tuh-ree

Etymology

The word "factory" comes from the Latin "factorium," meaning "a place for making," derived from "facere" (to make or do). The term entered English in the 16th century, initially referring to trading stations or warehouses, and later evolved to describe manufacturing establishments during the Industrial Revolution.

Derivatives

• Factories (plural noun)
• Factory-made (adjective)
• Factory-worker (noun)
• Factory-farmed (adjective)
• Manufacture (verb/noun, related)

Synonyms

• Plant
• Workshop
• Mill

Antonyms

• None

Usage

The noun "factory" is used to describe a place where goods are produced, such as "The factory produces thousands of cars each month." It is also used metaphorically to describe high-volume production systems, as in "The school has become a diploma factory."

Related Terms

• Industry: Economic activity concerned with the processing of raw materials and manufacturing of goods.
• Assembly line: A production process involving a sequence of workers or machines.
• Plant: A large industrial facility where goods are manufactured.

Detailed Definitions

Noun

• A building or group of buildings where goods are manufactured: Refers to a facility designed for production using machinery and labor.
  • Example: "The textile factory employs hundreds of workers."
• A place producing something in large quantities: Used metaphorically to describe systems that produce outputs at a high rate.
  • Example: "The publishing house is a factory for best-selling novels."