distributive

[ dih-strib-yuh-tiv ]

adjective

1. serving to distribute, assign, allot, or divide; characterized by or pertaining to distribution.
2. Grammar. referring to the members of a group individually, as the adjectives each and every.
3. Logic. (of a term) distributed in a given proposition.
4. Mathematics.
   1. (of a binary operation) having the property that terms in an expression may be expanded in a particular way to form an equivalent expression, as a ( b + c ) = ab + ac.
   2. having reference to this property:

      distributive law for multiplication over addition.

   3. (of a lattice) having the property that for any three elements, the intersection of the first element with the union of the others is equal to the intersection of the first element with each of the others.

noun

1. a distributive word or expression.

distributive

/ dɪˈstrɪbjʊtɪv /

adjective

1. characterized by or relating to distribution
2. grammar referring separately to the individual people or items in a group, as the words each and every

noun

1. grammar a distributive word
2. maths able to be distributed:

   multiplication is distributive over addition

distributive

/ dĭ-strĭb′yə-tĭv /

1. Relating to the property of multiplication over division which states that applying multiplication to a set of quantities that are combined by addition yields the same result as applying multiplication to each quantity individually and then adding those results together. Thus 2 × (3 + 4) is equal to (2 × 3) + (2 × 4).
2. See also associative

Derived Forms

• disˈtributively, adverb
• disˈtributiveness, noun

Other Words From

• dis·tribu·tive·ly adverb
• dis·tribu·tive·ness noun
• nondis·tribu·tive adjective
• nondis·tribu·tive·ly adverb
• nondis·tribu·tive·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of distributive¹

1425–75; late Middle English distributif < Middle French < Late Latin distribūtīvus ( distribute, -ive )

Example Sentences

The study's authors called these disparities a problem of "distributive justice," a term used to describe the equal distribution of a policy's benefits and burdens.

From Salon

"We are working, and will continue to work hard, to resolve the situation, and are working closely with our direct distributive customers to manage stock allocation fairly based on initial forecasts."

From BBC

When the Court decides cases about IP currently, "progress" is explained by deeply rooted constitutional values like equality, privacy, democratic accountability, self-determination and distributive justice.

From Salon

For everyday numbers to make sense, they have to have something called the distributive property, which is best seen through an example.

From Literature

“You can understand why utilities don’t like distributive resources,” said David Feldman, a senior energy analyst at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, using an industry term for small energy systems.

From New York Times