fac·tor n [Medieval Latin, doer, maker, agent, from Latin, maker, from facere to do, make]
1: one who acts or transacts business for another: as
a: a commercial agent who buys or sells goods for others on commission
b: one that lends money to producers and dealers (as on the security of accounts receivable)
2: a person or thing that actively contributes to the production of a result
a difference in salary based on a factor other than sex
Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary of Law. Merriam-Webster. 1996.