Definition of factory

The word "factory" originated in the 14th century from the Latin word "fabrica," meaning "workshop" or "manufactory." It was derived from the verb "fabricare," which means "to make" or "to create." In the early Middle Ages, a factory referred to a workshop or a place where goods were manufactured. Over time, the term evolved to describe a large-scale industrial facility where goods were produced using machinery and mass production techniques. The concept of a factory began to take shape during the Industrial Revolution of the 18th and 19th centuries, when textiles and other goods were mass-produced for the first time. The introduction of steam power and other machines enabled factories to process large quantities of goods quickly and efficiently, leading to significant economic growth and changes in the way goods were produced and distributed. Today, the word "factory" is used to describe a wide range of industrial facilities, from textile mills to computer chip manufacturers.