distributor

noun dis·trib·u·tor \ di-ˈstri-byü-tər , -byə- \

|Updated on: 12 Jun 2018

Definition of distributor

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

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Recent Examples of distributor from the Web

Recognizing that, the Enterprise Center has now added The Grit Live, which offers video and audio podcasts available for download on speaker.com and Apple iTunes among other podcast distributors.

— diane mastrull, Philly.com, "On Dick Clark's old dancing ground, The Grit Live aims to be 'the Pandora of entrepreneurs'," 7 June 2018
But the US Department of Justice is not enthusiastic about the handful of information distributors that dominate the American landscape absorbing additional programming into their empires.

— susan crawford, WIRED, "The Comcast-Disney Battle Isn't Just Business—It's a Grand Human Drama," 7 June 2018
Some distributors gave up on driving into lower Manhattan altogether and instead loaded their wares onto barges on the New Jersey side of the Hudson River.

— sean patrick cooper, The New Republic, "Is America Ready for the Next Superstorm?," 4 June 2018
Three-star guard Serrel Smith projects as more of a scorer than distributor, but should round into an off-the-bench contributor by season’s end.

— jonas shaffer, baltimoresun.com, "With Huerter gone and Fernando back, Maryland basketball has familiar potential and problems ahead," 2 June 2018
The traceback investigation indicates that the illnesses associated with this outbreak cannot be explained by a single grower, harvester, processor, or distributor.

— susan scutti, CNN, "197 illnesses, five deaths in E. coli outbreak tied to romaine lettuce," 1 June 2018
But again, if the Cowboys are asking Prescott to be more distributor than anything else, with a strong run game and improved defense as the team’s foundation, he’s shown he’s capable.

— albert breer, SI.com, "Great Expectations Across the NFL: 10 Teams, Coaches and Players (Plus a Broadcaster) Staring Down a Huge 2018," 31 May 2018
Dwight Adams/IndyStar Monarch Beverage, the state's largest beer distributor, is laying off 100 employees after losing a contract with a major supplier.

— tony cook, Indianapolis Star, "Monarch lays off 100 employees amid losing battle to distribute liquor," 23 May 2018
In the retail market, so many of the dealers and distributors don’t have warehousing because of the cost of maintaining facilities and the quickness of the way products are moving off the shelves.

— Popular Mechanics, "The Future of American Manufacturing," 23 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'distributor.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of distributor

1526

in the meaning defined at sense 1

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DISTRIBUTOR Defined for English Language Learners

distributor

noun

Definition of distributor for English Language Learners

: a person or company that supplies stores or businesses with goods
: a device that sends electricity to the spark plugs of an engine

DISTRIBUTOR Defined for Kids

distributor

noun dis·trib·u·tor \ di-ˈstri-byü-tər , -byə- \

Definition of distributor for Students

: a person or company that supplies stores or businesses with goods

Learn More about distributor

Spanish Central: Translation of distributor Nglish: Translation of distributor for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of distributor for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about distributor

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distributor

Definition of distributor

Recent Examples of distributor from the Web

First Known Use of distributor

DISTRIBUTOR Defined for English Language Learners

distributor

Definition of distributor for English Language Learners

DISTRIBUTOR Defined for Kids

distributor

Definition of distributor for Students

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