distributor

noun

dis·​trib·​u·​tor di-ˈstri-byü-tər 

-byə-

1

: one that distributes

2

: one that markets a commodity

especially : wholesaler

3

: an apparatus for directing the secondary current from the induction coil to the various spark plugs of an engine in their proper firing order

Examples of distributor in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The organization, founded in 1949, represents more than 1,000 French industry professionals, including producers, exporters, directors, actors, agents and distributors. — Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 3 July 2026

Teams will have the opportunity to meet with financiers, sellers and distributors. — Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 3 July 2026

That’s a genre-defying triumph that a bigger distributor, like Amazon MGM, might have had a harder time promoting. — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 2 July 2026

The team had to determine whether broad catalogue distributors were sufficient or whether country-level partners with industry knowledge were more suitable. — Thomas Lim, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1526, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for distributor

• contributor

Kids Definition

distributor

noun

dis·​trib·​u·​tor dis-ˈtrib-yət-ər 

1

: one that distributes

2

: an agent or agency for marketing goods

3

: a device that sends electric current to the spark plugs of an engine so that they fire in the proper order