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
Users can now talk to Figure 03 naturally, without the tinny distortion common in voice assistants.
—
Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 9 Oct. 2025
Their low-distortion technology makes bass clearer, while voice isolation and active noise cancellation prevent traffic and other external sounds from drowning out your tunes, calls, and audiobooks.
—Clara McMahon, PEOPLE, 7 Oct. 2025
The ad that Daria sees online, containing her face, is also meant to be a distortion of reality (though maybe this type of advertisement is coming for us soon).
—Nina Mesfin, New Yorker, 5 Oct. 2025
Not everyone can wrap their head around the interaction between distortion and twang.
—Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 3 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for distortion
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Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 9 Oct. 2025
Their low-distortion technology makes bass clearer, while voice isolation and active noise cancellation prevent traffic and other external sounds from drowning out your tunes, calls, and audiobooks.
—Clara McMahon, PEOPLE, 7 Oct. 2025
The ad that Daria sees online, containing her face, is also meant to be a distortion of reality (though maybe this type of advertisement is coming for us soon).
—Nina Mesfin, New Yorker, 5 Oct. 2025
Not everyone can wrap their head around the interaction between distortion and twang.
—Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 3 Oct. 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 10 Oct. 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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