Factory: meaning, definitions and examples

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factory

 

[ˈfæk.tər.i ]

Definitions

Context #1 | Noun

industrial production

A building or group of buildings where goods are manufactured or assembled by machines and workers.

Synonyms

mill, plant, workshop.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
factory

Generally used to refer to a large industrial building where goods are manufactured, typically by machine.

  • The factory produces thousands of cars each week
  • Workers at the factory must follow strict safety rules
plant

Typically refers to a large industrial facility where complex manufacturing or production processes take place. Commonly used in contexts like chemical, power, or automotive production.

  • The power plant supplies energy to the entire region
  • The car plant has announced a new line of electric vehicles
mill

Often used to describe a building equipped with machinery for grinding grain into flour or for processing raw materials into finished products. It can also refer to a traditional or historical type of manufacturing site.

  • The old mill by the river has been converted into a museum
  • The textile mill employs hundreds of people from the local town
workshop

Usually refers to a smaller facility or room where manual labor and crafting occur. It often implies more individual or artisanal work rather than mass production.

  • He spent the afternoon building a birdhouse in his workshop
  • The workshop offers classes on woodworking and pottery

Examples of usage

  • The factory produces over 1000 cars a day.
  • They worked in a textile factory in the 19th century.
  • The factory workers went on strike for better working conditions.
  • The old factory was converted into loft apartments.
  • The factory is located in the industrial zone of the city.
Context #2 | Noun

a person or group of people with a particular skill

A person, team, or group that produces a great quantity of something, typically in a mechanical or unoriginal way.

Synonyms

generator, producer, source.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
factory

A place where goods are manufactured or assembled. Used in an industrial context.

  • The city is known for its car manufacturing factories
  • She works at a factory that produces electronics
producer

Refers to a person or company that creates goods, services, or information. Commonly used in economic and media contexts.

  • She is a leading producer of organic foods in the area
  • The film's producer managed to secure a high budget
generator

A device that converts mechanical energy into electrical energy. Often used in the context of power generation.

  • We need a backup generator in case of a power outage
  • The wind turbines act as generators to produce electricity
source

The origin or starting point of something. Can be used in various contexts including resources, information, power, etc.

  • The river is the main source of water for the farm
  • We need to verify the source of this information before publishing

Examples of usage

  • She's a factory of ideas, always coming up with new projects.
  • The company is a factory of talent, producing top performers.

Translations

Translations of the word "factory" in other languages:

🇵🇹 fábrica

🇮🇳 कारख़ाना

🇩🇪 Fabrik

🇮🇩 pabrik

🇺🇦 завод

🇵🇱 fabryka

🇯🇵 工場 (こうじょう, kōjō)

🇫🇷 usine

🇪🇸 fábrica

🇹🇷 fabrika

🇰🇷 공장 (gongjang)

🇸🇦 مصنع (masna')

🇨🇿 továrna

🇸🇰 továreň

🇨🇳 工厂 (gōngchǎng)

🇸🇮 tovarna

🇮🇸 verksmiðja

🇰🇿 зауыт

🇬🇪 ქარხანა (k'arkhana)

🇦🇿 zavod

🇲🇽 fábrica

Etymology

The word 'factory' originated from the Latin word 'factorium', meaning 'place where things are made'. The concept of factories as industrial production facilities began during the Industrial Revolution in the 18th century, when mechanized production transformed the way goods were manufactured. Factories played a significant role in shaping modern economies and societies, leading to advancements in technology, transportation, and urbanization.

Word Frequency Rank

At position #2,694, this word belongs to solid intermediate vocabulary. It's frequently used in both casual and formal contexts and is worth learning for better fluency.