distributive
adjective
dis·trib·u·tive
di-ˈstri-byü-tiv 
-byə-
-byə-
1
: of or relating to distribution: such as
a
: dealing a proper share to each of a group
b
: diffusing more or less evenly
2
of a word
: referring singly and without exception to the members of a group
each, either, and none are distributive
3
a
: being an operation (such as multiplication in a(b + c) = ab + ac) that produces the same result when operating on the whole mathematical expression as when operating on each part and collecting the results
b
: being or relating to a rule or property concerning a distributive operation
the distributive property of multiplication with respect to addition
distributively
adverb
Examples of distributive in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Uruk had a distributive economy, where these agricultural products were funnelled through the temple to its workers and a wider population.
—
Literary Hub, 26 Aug. 2025
As such, the limited partners’ distributive share did not qualify for the SECA exclusion.
—Virginia La Torre Jeker, Forbes.com, 18 June 2025
As a result, Verde Clean Fuels is subject to U.S. federal income taxes on its distributive share of OpCo's net taxable income.
—Quartz Intelligence Newsroom, Quartz, 28 Mar. 2025
Negotiation experts typically differentiate between distributive and integrative bargaining tactics.
—Lieke Ten Brummelhuis, Forbes, 12 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for distributive
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Literary Hub, 26 Aug. 2025
As such, the limited partners’ distributive share did not qualify for the SECA exclusion.
—Virginia La Torre Jeker, Forbes.com, 18 June 2025
As a result, Verde Clean Fuels is subject to U.S. federal income taxes on its distributive share of OpCo's net taxable income.
—Quartz Intelligence Newsroom, Quartz, 28 Mar. 2025
Negotiation experts typically differentiate between distributive and integrative bargaining tactics.
—Lieke Ten Brummelhuis, Forbes, 12 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for distributive
Cite this Entry
“Distributive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/distributive. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
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distributive
adjective
dis·trib·u·tive
dis-ˈtrib-yət-iv
1
: of or relating to distribution : serving to distribute
2
: of, having, or being the property of giving the same mathematical result when an operation is carried out on a whole expression and when it is carried out on each part of an expression with the results then collected together
the distributive property of multiplication means a(b + c) = ab + ac
distributively
adverb
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