refactor

R1E1F4A1C3T1O1R1

verb

To rewrite existing source code in order to improve its readability, reusability or structure without affecting its meaning or behaviour.

“We don't have time for a major refactor; we're shipping in two weeks.”

OriginEnglish factor ← Middle English factour ← Anglo-Norman factour →
UncommonScrabble 13
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Meanings

verbrefactor (third-person singular simple present refactors, present participle refactoring, simple past and past participle refactored)

present singular third person refactors · participle present refactoring · participle past refactored · past refactored

  1. computingTo rewrite existing source code in order to improve its readability, reusability or structure without affecting its meaning or behaviour.

    The code works, but I must refactor it before it is production quality.

  2. communicationsTo rewrite existing text in order to improve its readability, reusability or structure without intentionally affecting its meaning. Similar to, but sometimes involving more extensive restructuring than, copy editing.

    Two significant activities which to contribute to community projects, such as Wikipedia, are to refactor complicated articles into simpler ones, and to refactor duplicated content into reusable templates.

nounrefactor (plural refactors)

plural refactors

  1. computingThe process by which source code is refactored.

    We don't have time for a major refactor; we're shipping in two weeks.

Origin

  1. Proto-Italic*wre-
  2. Latinre-
  3. Old Frenchre-
  4. Middle Englishre-
  5. Englishre-
  6. Proto-Indo-European*dʰeh₁-
  7. Proto-Indo-European*dʰeh₁k-
  8. Proto-Indo-European*dʰh₁kyéti
  9. Proto-Italic*θakjō
  10. Proto-Italic*fakjō
  11. Latinfaciō
  12. Latinfactor
  13. Middle Frenchfacteur
  14. Latinfactor
  15. Anglo-Normanfactour
  16. Middle Englishfactour
  17. Englishfactor
  18. Englishrefactor

From re- + factor.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Chinese Mandarin 重構 /重构
  • 重構 /重构 (chónggòu)(computing) to rewrite existing source code in order to improve its readability, reusability or structure without affecting its meaning or behaviour
Czech refaktorovat
  • refaktorovat(computing) to rewrite existing source code in order to improve its readability, reusability or structure without affecting its meaning or behaviour
Finnish refaktoroida, muotoilla uudelleen
  • refaktoroida(computing) to rewrite existing source code in order to improve its readability, reusability or structure without affecting its meaning or behaviour
  • muotoilla uudelleen(computing) to rewrite existing source code in order to improve its readability, reusability or structure without affecting its meaning or behaviour
French refactoriser
  • refactoriser(computing) to rewrite existing source code in order to improve its readability, reusability or structure without affecting its meaning or behaviour
Spanish refactorizar
  • refactorizar(computing) to rewrite existing source code in order to improve its readability, reusability or structure without affecting its meaning or behaviour
Vietnamese tái cấu trúc
  • tái cấu trúc(computing) to rewrite existing source code in order to improve its readability, reusability or structure without affecting its meaning or behaviour
Cite this entry
APA

refactor. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/refactor

MLA

“refactor.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/refactor. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “refactor,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/refactor.

Source: refactor on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.