factorfac·tor1 /ˈfæktə-ər/ noun1[countableC] one of many things that influence or affect a situationThe council will take a number of factors into account when making its decision.
The law should not be concerned solely with economic factors.
→ adjustment factor → critical success factor → hygiene factor → load factor → motivator factor → weighting factor2the deciding/decisive/determining factor the most important thing that affects a decisionThe chancellor’s achievements on exchange and interest rates could be the deciding factor in the election.
The size of the firm is likely to be the determining factor as to whether decisions should be unanimous or taken by majority vote.
3the feelgood factor journalism when people have positive feelings about the economy and their own financial situation, and the way that this influences the popularity of the governmentAn opinion poll of voters showed a big drop in the feelgood factor.
4[countableC] (also invoice factor)FINANCE a financial institution that pays a business the money that suppliers owe it immediately, in return for a small percentage. The business benefits by getting the money immediately, improving its CASH FLOW. Factoring is a form of finance that can be cheaper than bank loans or OVERDRAFTsNew technology used by modern factors shows what cheques have been paid in and whether there are disputed invoices.
a member of the Association of Invoice Factors
5[countableC]STATISTICS one of two or more numbers which divide into another number exactly. For example, 5 and 7 are factors of 35 6by a factor of five/ten etcSTATISTICS if an amount increases or decreases by a factor of five, ten etc, it increases or decreases by five times, ten times etcA computer system can speed up administration by a factor of about 4.