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

distortional

di-ˈstȯr-sh(ə-)nəl 

adjective

Synonyms of distortion

• deformation

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

Not the fun stuff – waving down at your antlike neighbors, chatting up green alien dudes – but the dicey stuff like zero gravity and sound and communication distortions? — John Metcalfe, Mercury News, 24 June 2026

Timing, adjustments and sometimes outright manipulation can create distortions that do not survive a quality-of-earnings review. — Louis Mosca, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026

Its 30mm drivers deliver balanced audio without distortion, and the sound quality punches way above its price point. — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 23 June 2026

Some pastimes are distractions, some are distortions, and some few are true distillations—refining a city or a place or a community to its essence, deliciously sipped by all. — Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 21 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

see distort

First Known Use

1581, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for distortion

• abortion
• apportion
• contortion
• extortion
• proportion
• disproportion
• portion
• torsion

Kids 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

distortional

-shnəl 

-shən-ᵊl

adjective

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