distribution

[ dis-truh-byoo-shuhn ]

noun

1. an act or instance of distributing.
2. the state or manner of being distributed.
3. arrangement; classification.
4. something that is distributed.
5. the frequency of occurrence or the natural geographic range or place where any item or category of items occurs:

   What is the distribution of coniferous forests in the world?

6. placement, location, arrangement, or disposition:

   The distribution of our troops is a military secret.

7. apportionment:

   The court decided the distribution of the property among the heirs.

8. the delivery or giving out of an item or items to the intended recipients, as mail or newspapers.
9. the total number of an item delivered, sold, or given out:

   The distribution of our school paper is now 800.

10. the marketing, transporting, merchandising, and selling of any item.
11. (in bridge and other card games) the way in which the suits of a deck of cards are, or one specific suit is, divided or apportioned in one player's hand or among the hands of all the players:

    My distribution was six spades, four hearts, two clubs, and a singleton diamond.

12. Economics.
    1. the division of the aggregate income of any society among its members, or among the factors of production.
    2. the system of dispersing goods throughout a community.
13. Statistics. a set of values or measurements of a set of elements, each measurement being associated with an element.
14. Mathematics. a generalized function used especially in solving differential equations.

distribution

/ ˌdɪstrɪˈbjuːʃən /

noun

1. the act of distributing or the state or manner of being distributed
2. a thing or portion distributed
3. arrangement or location
4. commerce the process of physically satisfying the demand for goods and services
5. economics the division of the total income of a community among its members, esp between labour incomes (wages and salaries) and property incomes (rents, interest, and dividends)
6. statistics the set of possible values of a random variable, or points in a sample space, considered in terms of new theoretical or observed frequency

   a normal distribution

7. law the apportioning of the estate of a deceased intestate among the persons entitled to share in it
8. law the lawful division of the assets of a bankrupt among his creditors
9. finance
   1. the division of part of a company's profit as a dividend to its shareholders
   2. the amount paid by dividend in a particular distribution
10. engineering the way in which the fuel-air mixture is supplied to each cylinder of a multicylinder internal-combustion engine

distribution

1. The process of marketing and merchandising goods . Also, the way in which wealth or goods or services are allotted, as in the distribution of wealth.

Derived Forms

• ˌdistriˈbutional, adjective

Other Words From

• distri·bution·al adjective
• misdis·tri·bution noun
• nondis·tri·bution noun
• nondis·tri·bution·al adjective
• predis·tri·bution noun
• prodis·tri·bution adjective
• super·distri·bution noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of distribution¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin distribūtiōn-, stem of distribūtiō “division”; equivalent to distribute + -ion

Example Sentences

Parry, who was the Premier League's first chief executive from 1992 to 1997, said the game needs "fairer distribution of revenues".

From BBC

Colonna said it also ceased production and distribution of all cinnamon.

From Salon

Thompson, who is awaiting sentencing, pleaded guilty in November 2023 to conspiracy to aid and abet drug distribution, money laundering, and concealment money laundering of drug trafficking proceeds.

From Los Angeles Times

“They will infiltrate a legitimate business, take control of its distribution networks and use it to move other illegal items, including stolen food.”

From BBC

“What I’m saying is the combination of special operations and drones, I think, could eradicate the manufacturing facilities, kill the distribution networks, and make a real dent in what is a terrorist activity.”

From Salon

Related Words

• circulation
• delivery
• disposal
• dissemination
• handling
• marketing
• sharing
• trading
• transport
• transportation