Factor
/ˈfæktər/
Definitions
3 meaningsA circumstance, fact, or influence that contributes to a result or outcome.
/ˈfæktər/
Something that contributes to a result.
The weather was a major factor in delaying the construction project.
💡 Simply: A *factor* is like an ingredient in a recipe. If you want a cake, flour, sugar, and eggs are all *factors* that help make it. Without all the ingredients, the cake won't turn out right!
👶 For kids: A *factor* is something that helps make something happen. Like, sun and water are *factors* that help plants grow!
More Examples
Several factors, including price and quality, influenced my decision to buy this product.
Health is influenced by many factors such as diet and exercise.
How It's Used
"Increased marketing efforts were a key factor in the company's sales growth."
"The presence of oxygen is a crucial factor in supporting combustion."
"The numbers 3 and 5 are factors of 15."
To include a particular fact or thing when making a calculation or forming a judgment or plan.
/ˈfæktər/
To consider or include something as a factor.
The designers factored user feedback into the new product's development.
💡 Simply: When you *factor* something in, you’re making sure to think about it. Like when you are going on a trip and you *factor* in travel time.
👶 For kids: When you *factor* something in, it means you're thinking about it when you're making a plan. Like when you want to play outside but *factor* in the weather.
More Examples
We must factor in the potential for unforeseen delays.
The company factored in increased production costs when setting the product's price.
How It's Used
"The company factored rising fuel costs into their pricing strategy."
"The government needs to factor public opinion into its decisions."
A number or quantity that is multiplied by another to produce a given quantity.
/ˈfæktər/
A number or quantity that divides another number or quantity without a remainder.
Finding the prime factors of a number is a fundamental concept in mathematics.
💡 Simply: A *factor* in math is like a piece of a number that you can multiply. For example, 2 is a *factor* of 6 because you can multiply it by another number (3) to make 6.
👶 For kids: A *factor* in math is a number that you can multiply together to get another number. Like, 2 and 3 are *factors* of 6 because 2 times 3 equals 6.
More Examples
The factors of 24 are 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12 and 24.
We'll need to factor this equation to find the solution.
How It's Used
"The factors of 12 are 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 12."
Synonyms & Antonyms
Idioms & expressions
a deciding factor
The most important reason for something.
"The low price was a deciding factor in my purchase."
From Latin *factor* meaning 'doer, maker,' agent noun from *facere* 'to do, make.' It entered English in the 16th century.
The word 'factor' has been used since the 16th century, evolving from its Latin root *factor* meaning 'doer' to encompass various contexts like business, mathematics and more.
Memory tip
Think of a *factor* as a piece in a puzzle – it's one of the things needed to make the whole picture.
Word Origin
"doer, maker"