distribution
dihst-ruh-BYOO-shuhn
Distribution (noun) means the act of spreading or handing something out. Example: “The distribution of leaflets around the neighbourhood took the volunteers most of the weekend.”
noun
1
The act of spreading or handing something out.
"The distribution of leaflets around the neighbourhood took the volunteers most of the weekend."
"Teachers supervised the distribution of exam papers to each desk."
"The charity is in charge of food distribution in the region."
2
The process of getting goods from a maker to the people who buy them.
"The company has signed a deal for the distribution of its snacks across Europe."
"Poor distribution meant the new magazine was hard to find in small shops."
"The film got a limited theatrical distribution."
3
In statistics, the pattern showing how spread out or common different values are.
"The graph shows the distribution of heights among the students in our class."
"Statisticians checked whether the data had an even distribution around the average."
"The test scores followed a normal distribution."
How to use distribution
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishHow something is spread out or shared — whether goods, wealth, or data.
Common pairings
distribution channel
wealth distribution
normal distribution
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Word forms
- Plural
- distributions
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The _____ of leaflets around the neighbourhood took the volunteers most of the weekend.
Etymology
From Latin distributio, "a dividing up," from the same root as distribute.
Synonyms
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allocation
dispersal
sharing out
dissemination
delivery
circulation
spread
supply
dispersion
statistical distribution
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for distribution
region
ablation
allusion
emulsion
ideation
novation
diffusion
elocution
extension
oxidation
perfusion
selection
See all rhymes for distribution →
Frequently asked questions
What does “distribution” mean?
The word “distribution” means the act of spreading or handing something out. In plain terms, how something is spread out or shared — whether goods, wealth, or data.
How do you pronounce “distribution”?
“Distribution” is pronounced dihst-ruh-BYOO-shuhn (/ˌdɪstɹəˈbjuːʃən/ in IPA).
How do you use “distribution” in a sentence?
Here is “distribution” used in a sentence: “The charity is in charge of food distribution in the region.”
What part of speech is “distribution”?
“Distribution” is a noun.
Where does the word “distribution” come from?
The word “distribution” comes from Latin. From Latin distributio, "a dividing up," from the same root as distribute.
Is “distribution” a common word?
“Distribution” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “distribution” have?
“Distribution” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the act of spreading or handing something out.
What is the difference between distribution and delivery?
Distribution is the broad process of spreading something out to many recipients or points, deciding who gets what and how it reaches them. Delivery is the narrower final act of physically bringing an item to one specific place or person. Distribution usually includes delivery as its last step, alongside planning, storage, and routing.
What are the types of distribution?
The word covers several fields. In business and logistics, distribution means moving goods from producers to sellers or customers. In statistics, a distribution shows how values are spread across a range. In everyday use, it simply means handing things out fairly. The common thread is dispersal, spreading something across people, places, or values.
What is an example of distribution?
Handing out leaflets on a street corner is a simple example, since copies are spread among many people. Other examples include a charity distributing food parcels, a company distributing products to shops, or profits being distributed among shareholders. In each case, one supply is divided and passed to multiple recipients.
Why is distribution important?
Without distribution, goods, information, or resources would stay in one place and reach no one. It is the link between producing something and putting it in people's hands. Efficient distribution decides whether products arrive on time, whether aid reaches those in need, and whether a message spreads widely or stalls.
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