distortion

noun

dis·​tor·​tion di-ˈstȯr-shən How to pronounce distortion (audio)
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-shnəl How to pronounce distortion (audio)
-shə-nᵊl
adjective

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 Tempest recalled seeing Nolan try to create a distortion effect with a glass bowl. Christopher Kuo, New York Times, 7 Mar. 2024 This false victim-aggressor dichotomy frames Israel as a colonial oppressor, a gross distortion that not only undermines the truth but also emboldens terrorists like Hamas and their allies and is an affront to the historical legitimacy of Israel and the Jewish people’s right to exist. Russell Schwartz, Orange County Register, 8 Feb. 2024 The ultra-wide camera does a good job of fixing fish-eye distortion for inanimate objects, but people on the edge of the frame sometimes show stretching. PCMAG, 6 Feb. 2024 Symptoms like vision loss, distortion, or color changes may emerge hours later. George Dvorsky / Gizmodo, Quartz, 4 Mar. 2024 This collection uses the beauty pageant dynamic and social media vernacular to deliver satirical commentary on the expression of selfhood for artists, probing how the public, online presentation of the self results in its distortion. Ana María Caballero, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024 That type of distortion was one of our main ingredients, and that would be our high-frequency distortion. Richard Newby, The Hollywood Reporter, 26 Feb. 2024 The authors of the study found these distortion hotspots near Cape Canaveral, the suburbs and exurbs of Boston, and across Delaware and Maryland on the Delmarva Peninsula. Mira Rojanasakul, New York Times, 14 Feb. 2024 People generally adjust to the sensory distortions. Shira Ovide, Washington Post, 6 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'distortion.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

see distort

First Known Use

1581, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of distortion was in 1581

Dictionary Entries Near distortion

Cite this Entry

“Distortion.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/distortion. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

distortion

noun
dis·​tor·​tion dis-ˈtȯr-shən How to pronounce distortion (audio)
1
: the act of distorting
2
: the condition of being distorted or a product of distortion
distortional
-shnəl How to pronounce distortion (audio)
-shən-ᵊl
adjective

Medical Definition

distortion

noun
dis·​tor·​tion dis-ˈtȯr-shən How to pronounce distortion (audio)
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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