distortion
noun
dis·tor·tion
di-ˈstȯr-shən 
1
: the act of twisting or altering something out of its true, natural, or original state : the act of distorting
a distortion of the facts
2
: the quality or state of being distorted : a product of distorting: such as
a
physics
: a lack of proportionality in an image resulting from defects in the optical system
an image free of distortion
b
: falsified reproduction of an audio or video signal (see signal entry 1 sense 4b) caused by change in the wave form of the original signal
Examples of distortion in a Sentence
had to total the car due to a distortion of the chassis resulting from collision
Recent Examples on the Web
Consciousness, human life, utterly in the grip of its own dreamlife, all our thinking and voicing caught in a web of surreal distortion, generated by our irrational yearning and apprehensions, our appetite for myth, our solipsism.
—
Jane Ciabattari
september 25, Literary Hub, 25 Sep. 2025
That specimen formed the basis of the new reconstruction, which used cutting-edge CT scanning, light imaging and virtual techniques to separate the bones from the rock matrix that encased them, and to correct the distortions inherent in the fossil.
—Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 25 Sep. 2025
These ultra-tiny distortions, which were smaller than the width of a single atom, turned out to be of great importance.
—Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 24 Sep. 2025
Regarding Carr’s comments about news distortion, the FCC also has a policy defining the scope of that regulation.
—Angele Latham, Nashville Tennessean, 24 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for distortion
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Jane Ciabattari
september 25, Literary Hub, 25 Sep. 2025
That specimen formed the basis of the new reconstruction, which used cutting-edge CT scanning, light imaging and virtual techniques to separate the bones from the rock matrix that encased them, and to correct the distortions inherent in the fossil.
—Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 25 Sep. 2025
These ultra-tiny distortions, which were smaller than the width of a single atom, turned out to be of great importance.
—Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 24 Sep. 2025
Regarding Carr’s comments about news distortion, the FCC also has a policy defining the scope of that regulation.
—Angele Latham, Nashville Tennessean, 24 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for distortion
Cite this Entry
“Distortion.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/distortion. Accessed 29 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
distortion
noun
dis·tor·tion
dis-ˈtȯr-shən
1
: the act of distorting
2
: the condition of being distorted or a product of distortion
Medical Definition
distortion
noun
dis·tor·tion
dis-ˈtȯr-shən
1
: the censorship of unacceptable unconscious impulses so that they are unrecognizable to the ego in the manifest content of a dream
2
: a lack of correspondence of size or intensity in an image resulting from defects in an optical system
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