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.
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
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