name
Meaning 1
A surname.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Standard Lemma guide
factor
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
-
Received-Pronunciation: /ˈfæk.təː/
-
Received-Pronunciation: [ˈfæk.thəː]
-
General-American: /ˈfæk.tɚ/
-
General-American: [ˈfæk.thɚ] ~ [ˈfæk.thɹ̩]
-
US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
-
rhymes with -æktə(ɹ)
-
CMU ARPABET: F AE1 K T ER0 Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
noun
Meaning 2
A doer, maker; a person who does things for another person or organization.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: obsolete
Examples
- The factor of the trading post bought the furs.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 3
An agent or representative; a reseller or distributor (sometimes with a private label); a consignee.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 4
A commission agent.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: law
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 5
A person or business organization that provides money for another's new business venture; one who finances another's business.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: law
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 6
A business organization that lends money on accounts receivable or buys and collects accounts receivable.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: law
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 7
One of the elements, circumstances, or influences which contribute to produce a result.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
- The greatest factor in the decision was the need for public transportation.
- The economy was a factor in this year's budget figures.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 8
Any of various objects multiplied together to form some whole.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: mathematics, sciences
Examples
- 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.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 9
Influence; a phenomenon that affects the nature, the magnitude, and/or the timing of a consequence.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Qualifier: causal analysis
Examples
- The launch temperature was a factor of the Challenger disaster.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 10
A resource used in the production of goods or services, a factor of production.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: economics, sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 11
A steward or bailiff of an estate.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: Scotland
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 12
To find all the factors of (a number or other mathematical object) (the objects that divide it evenly).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 13
To rewrite an expression as the product of its factors.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 14
To be a product of other objects.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 15
To sell a debt or debts to an agent (the factor) to collect.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
Topics: business, commerce, commercial
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 16
(genetics) a segment of DNA that is involved in producing a polypeptide chain; it can include regions preceding and following the coding DNA as well as introns between the exons; it is considered a unit of heredity
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
- genes were formerly called factors
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: gene, cistron
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: sequence
Narrower terms: dominant gene, allele, allelomorph, genetic marker, homeotic gene, lethal gene, linkage group, linked genes, modifier, modifier gene, mutant gene, nonallele, operator gene, oncogene, transforming gene, polygene, proto-oncogene, recessive gene, regulatory gene, regulator gene, repressor gene, structural gene, suppressor, suppresser, suppressor gene, suppresser gene, transgene, X-linked gene, Y-linked gene, holandric gene
noun
Meaning 17
an independent variable in statistics
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: independent variable, experimental variable
noun
Meaning 18
an abstract part of something
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
- jealousy was a component of his character
- two constituents of a musical composition are melody and harmony
- the grammatical elements of a sentence
- a key factor in her success
- humor: an effective ingredient of a speech
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: component, constituent, element, ingredient
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: part, section, division
Narrower terms: be-all and end-all, be all and end all, plot element, point
noun
Meaning 19
anything that contributes causally to a result
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
- a number of factors determined the outcome
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: cause
Narrower terms: fundamental, parameter, unknown quantity, wild card, releasing factor, releasing hormone, RF, intrinsic factor
noun
Meaning 20
a businessman who buys or sells for another in exchange for a commission
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: agent, broker
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: businessperson, bourgeois
Narrower terms: auctioneer, insurance broker, insurance agent, general agent, underwriter, investment banker, real estate broker, real estate agent, estate agent, land agent, house agent, ship broker, stockbroker, syndic, travel agent
noun
Meaning 21
any of the numbers (or symbols) that form a product when multiplied together
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: number
Narrower terms: deflator, conversion factor, factor of proportionality, constant of proportionality
noun
Meaning 22
one of two or more integers that can be exactly divided into another integer
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
- what are the 4 factors of 6?
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: divisor
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: integer, whole number
Narrower terms: prime factor, equivalent-binary-digit factor, common divisor, common factor, common measure
verb
Meaning 23
resolve into factors
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
- a quantum computer can factor the number 15
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: factor in, factor out
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: calculate, cipher, cypher, compute, work out, reckon, figure
verb
Meaning 24
consider as relevant when making a decision
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
- You must factor in the recent developments
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: factor in, factor out
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: study, consider
verb
Meaning 25
be a contributing factor
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
- make things factor into a company's profitability
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: lend, impart, bestow, contribute, add, bring
History
Etymology
From Middle French facteur, from Latin factor (“a doer, maker, performer”), from factus (“done or made”), perfect passive participle of faciō (“do, make”).
Across languages
Translations
194 source translations are retained for this English entry.
- Avestan: 𐬛𐬁𐬙𐬀𐬭 (dātar) — doer, maker
- Bulgarian: аге́нт (agént) — doer, maker
- Chinese Mandarin: 代理商 (dàilǐ shāng) — doer, maker
- Czech: činitel — doer, maker
- Danish: agent — doer, maker
- Dutch: uitvoerder — doer, maker
- Finnish: tekijä — doer, maker
- Finnish: edustaja — doer, maker
- French: agent — doer, maker
- German: Agent — doer, maker
- German: Makler — doer, maker
- German: Kommissionär — doer, maker
- Hindi: कारक (kārak) — doer, maker
- Irish: fachtóir — doer, maker
- Japanese: 代理人 (dairinin) — doer, maker
- Korean: 대리상 (daerisang) — doer, maker
- Korean: 대리인 (daeriin) — doer, maker
- Kyrgyz: фактор (faktor) — doer, maker
- Latin: factor — doer, maker
- Iranian Persian: کارْگُزار (kârgozâr) — doer, maker
- Polish: faktor — doer, maker
- Polish: pełnomocnik — doer, maker
- Portuguese: fator — doer, maker
- Portuguese: fazedor — doer, maker
- Russian: комиссионе́р (komissionér) — doer, maker
- Russian: фа́ктор (fáktor) — doer, maker
- Russian: аге́нт (agént) — doer, maker
- Russian: дове́ренное лицо́ (dovérennoje licó) — doer, maker
- Russian: представи́тель (predstavítelʹ) — doer, maker
- Scottish Gaelic: maor — doer, maker
- Scottish Gaelic: seumarlan — doer, maker
- Scottish Gaelic: bàillidh — doer, maker
- Serbo-Croatian: činitelj — doer, maker
- Serbo-Croatian: čimbenik — doer, maker
- Slovak: činiteľ — doer, maker
- Turkish: etken — doer, maker
- Turkish: faktör — doer, maker
- Turkish: amil — doer, maker
- Uyghur: ئامىل (amil) — doer, maker
- Arabic: عَامِل (ʕāmil) — integral part
- Azerbaijani: amil — integral part
- Belarusian: фа́ктар (fáktar) — integral part
- Belarusian: чы́ннік (čýnnik) — integral part
- Belarusian: чы́ньнік (čýnʹnik) — integral part
- Bulgarian: фа́ктор (fáktor) — integral part
- Chinese Mandarin: 因子 (yīnzǐ) — integral part
- Czech: faktor — integral part
- Danish: faktor — integral part
- Estonian: tegur — integral part
- Finnish: tekijä — integral part
- French: facteur — integral part
- Galician: factor — integral part
- German: Faktor — integral part
- Greek: παράγοντας (parágontas) — integral part
- Hebrew: גּוֹרֵם (gorém) — integral part
- Hebrew: חלק אינטגרלי (khelék integráli) — integral part
- Hindi: घटक (ghaṭak) — integral part
- Hungarian: tényező — integral part
- Hungarian: elem — integral part
- Hungarian: faktor — integral part
- Indonesian: faktor — integral part
- Irish: toisc — integral part
- Italian: fattore — integral part
- Japanese: 因子 (inshi) — integral part
- Khmer: កត្តា (kɑɑkɑttaa) — integral part
- Korean: 인자 (inja) — integral part
- Malay: faktor — integral part
- Norwegian Bokmål: faktor — integral part
- Iranian Persian: فاکْتور (fâktor) — integral part
- Polish: czynnik — integral part
- Polish: faktor — integral part
- Portuguese: factor — integral part
- Russian: фа́ктор (fáktor) — integral part
- Russian: дви́жущая си́ла (dvížuščaja síla) — integral part
- Serbo-Croatian: činilac — integral part
- Spanish: factor — integral part
- Swedish: faktor — integral part
- Tagalog: salik — integral part
- Thai: ปัจจัย (bpàt-jai) — integral part
- Turkish: etken — integral part
- Turkish: faktör — integral part
- Ukrainian: чи́нник (čýnnyk) — integral part
- Ukrainian: фа́ктор (fáktor) — integral part
- Yiddish: פֿאַקטאָר (faktor) — integral part
- Asturian: factor — mathematical sense
- Azerbaijani: vuruq — mathematical sense
- Belarusian: мно́жнік (mnóžnik) — mathematical sense
- Belarusian: каэфіцые́нт (kaeficyjént) — mathematical sense
- Bulgarian: мно́жител (mnóžitel) — mathematical sense
- Bulgarian: коефицие́нт (koeficiént) — mathematical sense
- Catalan: factor — mathematical sense
- Cebuano: sab-oy — mathematical sense
- Chinese Mandarin: 因數 /因数 (yīnshù) — mathematical sense
- Chinese Mandarin: 約數 /约数 (yuēshù) — mathematical sense
- Czech: faktor — mathematical sense
- Danish: faktor — mathematical sense
- Estonian: tegur — mathematical sense
- Finnish: tekijä — mathematical sense
- French: facteur — mathematical sense
- Galician: factor — mathematical sense
- German: Faktor — mathematical sense
- Hebrew: גּוֹרֵם (gorém) — mathematical sense
- Hindi: गुणक (guṇak) — mathematical sense
- Hungarian: szorzótényező — mathematical sense
- Hungarian: szorzó — mathematical sense
- Hungarian: együttható — mathematical sense
- Icelandic: þáttur — mathematical sense
- Indonesian: faktor — mathematical sense
- Irish: fachtóir — mathematical sense
- Italian: fattore — mathematical sense
- Japanese: 因数 (insū) — mathematical sense
- Khmer: កត្តា (kɑɑkɑttaa) — mathematical sense
- Korean: 인수 (insu) — mathematical sense
- Malay: faktor — mathematical sense
- Manx: faghteyr — mathematical sense
- Māori: tauwehe — mathematical sense
- Norwegian Bokmål: faktor — mathematical sense
- Iranian Persian: فاکْتور (fâktor) — mathematical sense
- Polish: czynnik — mathematical sense
- Polish: faktor — mathematical sense
- Polish: mnożnik — mathematical sense
- Portuguese: fator — mathematical sense
- Russian: мно́житель (mnóžitelʹ) — mathematical sense
- Russian: коэффицие́нт (koefficiént) — mathematical sense
- Russian: показа́тель (pokazátelʹ) — mathematical sense
- Serbo-Croatian: faktor — mathematical sense
- Serbo-Croatian: čimbenik — mathematical sense
- Slovak: násobiteľ — mathematical sense
- Slovak: faktor — mathematical sense
- Spanish: factor — mathematical sense
- Swedish: faktor — mathematical sense
- Tagalog: kabuo — mathematical sense
- Turkish: çarpan — mathematical sense
- Ukrainian: мно́жник (mnóžnyk) — mathematical sense
- Ukrainian: коефіціє́нт (koeficijént) — mathematical sense
- Vietnamese: thừa số — mathematical sense
- Azerbaijani: amil — influence
- Belarusian: чы́ннік (čýnnik) — influence
- Belarusian: чы́ньнік (čýnʹnik) — influence
- Belarusian: фа́ктар (fáktar) — influence
- Bulgarian: фактор (faktor) — influence
- Chinese Mandarin: 因素 (yīnsù) — influence
- Danish: faktor — influence
- Finnish: tekijä — influence
- Finnish: osatekijä — influence
- French: facteur — influence
- German: Faktor — influence
- Greek: παράγοντας (parágontas) — influence
- Hebrew: גּוֹרֵם (gorém) — influence
- Hindi: कारण (kāraṇ) — influence
- Hungarian: tényező — influence
- Italian: fattore — influence
- Japanese: 要因 (yōin) — influence
- Khmer: កត្តា (kɑɑkɑttaa) — influence
- Korean: 요인 (yoin) — influence
- Norwegian Bokmål: faktor — influence
- Norwegian Bokmål: årsak — influence
- Polish: czynnik — influence
- Portuguese: fator — influence
- Russian: причи́на (pričína) — influence
- Russian: фактор (faktor) — influence
- Spanish: factor — influence
- Swedish: faktor — influence
- Ukrainian: чи́нник (čýnnyk) — influence
- Ukrainian: фа́ктор (fáktor) — influence
- Vietnamese: yếu tố — influence
- Vietnamese: nhân tố — influence
- Yiddish: פֿאַקטאָר (faktor) — influence
- Bulgarian: фактор (faktor) — economic resource
- Bulgarian: разлагам на множители (razlagam na množiteli) — to find all factors of a number
- Chinese Mandarin: 分解因子 (fēnjiě yīnzǐ) — to find all factors of a number
- Danish: faktorisere — to find all factors of a number
- Finnish: jakaa tekijöihin — to find all factors of a number
- French: factoriser — to find all factors of a number
- Hebrew: לפרק לגורמים (lefarék legormím) — to find all factors of a number
- Icelandic: þátta — to find all factors of a number
- Icelandic: þætta — to find all factors of a number
- Icelandic: leysa upp í þætti — to find all factors of a number
- Italian: fattorizzare — to find all factors of a number
- Norwegian: faktorisere — to find all factors of a number
- Occitan: factorizar — to find all factors of a number
- Serbo-Croatian: rastaviti na faktore — to find all factors of a number
- Serbo-Croatian: faktorizirati — to find all factors of a number
- Spanish: factorizar — to find all factors of a number
- Tagalog: bungkagin — to find all factors of a number
- Asturian: factorizar — to rewrite as a product of factors
- Catalan: factoritzar — to rewrite as a product of factors
- Catalan: descompondre en producte de factors — to rewrite as a product of factors
- French: factoriser — to rewrite as a product of factors
- Galician: factorizar — to rewrite as a product of factors
- Italian: fattorizzare — to rewrite as a product of factors
- Italian: scomporre — to rewrite as a product of factors
- Portuguese: fatorar — to rewrite as a product of factors
- Spanish: factorizar — to rewrite as a product of factors
Real reading context