# factory

/ˈfæktɝi/ (US) · /fˈæktəɹˌi/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/factory
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. manufacturing building

noun · CEFR A2

a large building where machines are used to make goods in large numbers.

For teachers: a building or group of buildings where goods are manufactured or assembled by machines.

- The car factory employs thousands of people from the local town.
- The textile factory underwent a massive renovation to accommodate the new automated looms and improve energy efficiency.

### 2. software object creator

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a part of a computer program that creates new objects for the code to use.

For teachers: a function, method, or class designed to create and return instances of other objects, often to hide complex instantiation logic.

- The developer used a factory to create different types of user profiles.
- Implementing a factory pattern allowed the software to instantiate various document types without the client code needing to know the specific subclasses.

Usage: Often used in the phrase 'factory pattern' or 'factory method'.

### 3. historical trading post

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic

a place in a foreign country where merchants used to trade goods in the past.

For teachers: an early modern trading station or establishment, typically located in a foreign territory and managed by a factor.

- The company established a factory on the coast to trade spices and silk.
- The eighteenth-century factory served as both a warehouse for exported goods and a fortified residence for the company's agents.

### 4. police station

noun · CEFR C1 · British English · Slang

a slang word for a police station.

For teachers: a slang term for a police station, primarily used within certain urban dialects.

- The detective spent all night at the factory finishing his paperwork.
- Word on the street was that the suspect had already been taken down to the factory for questioning.

### 5. original state

adjective · CEFR B2 · Informal

describing something that is exactly as it was when it was first made.

For teachers: referring to the original, unmodified state of a product as delivered by the manufacturer.

- I prefer the factory settings on my phone because they are easy to use.
- The car was kept in factory condition, with no aftermarket modifications to the engine or the interior trim.

Usage: Usually placed before the noun.

## Examples

- The car factory employs thousands of local workers.
- The company moved its main factory to the outskirts of the city to save on rent and improve logistics.
- While the old textile factory has been converted into luxury apartments, the surrounding neighborhood still retains its industrial character and historical significance.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.