distribution

noun

dis·​tri·​bu·​tion ˌdi-strə-ˈbyü-shən How to pronounce distribution (audio)
1
a
: the act or process of distributing
the distribution of leaflets
profit distribution
the distribution of weight
b
law : the act or process of apportioning by a court the personal property of an intestate
2
a
: the position, arrangement, or frequency of occurrence (as of the members of a group) over an area or throughout a space or unit of time
the distribution of the country's population
b
biology : the natural geographic range of an organism
3
a
: something distributed
charitable distributions
: such as
(1)
: a sum of money withdrawn from a fund (such as a retirement fund) and given to the beneficiary (see beneficiary sense 2b) or holder of the fund
b mathematics
4
anatomy : the pattern of branching and termination (see termination sense 4) of a ramifying structure (such as a nerve)
5
business : the marketing or merchandising of commodities
keeping track of distribution costs
distributional adjective

Examples of distribution in a Sentence

The group collects food and clothing for distribution to needy families. The distribution of paychecks will happen every other Friday. The university does not permit distribution of leaflets on campus. She was responsible for product distribution. The company handles the distribution of goods to stores nationwide. He complained that the distribution of work was unfair. He studies the distributions of wildcats in North America. The new design provides better weight distribution.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Platforms like YouTube and Instagram are providing distribution and control of their stories in ways once unimaginable—and allowing people with disabilities the chance to reach audiences once unheard of. Alan Schwarz, Forbes.com, 17 June 2025 Substack offers a comprehensive solution that combines website functionality, blogging capability, newsletter distribution and podcast hosting. Jd Barker, Rolling Stone, 17 June 2025 If finalized, this settlement will add to more than $50 billion in opioid pay-outs by corporations that profited from manufacture, distribution and retail of opioid painkillers at a time when overdoses and drug deaths were skyrocketing in the U.S. Brian Mann, NPR, 16 June 2025 He was originally charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine, seven counts of distribution of ketamine and two counts of altering and falsifying documents or records related to the federal investigation, according to the US Attorney’s office. Taylor Romine, CNN Money, 16 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for distribution

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of distribution was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Distribution.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/distribution. Accessed 20 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

distribution

noun
dis·​tri·​bu·​tion ˌdis-trə-ˈbyü-shən How to pronounce distribution (audio)
1
: the act or process of distributing
2
a
: the position, arrangement, or numbers (as of the members of a group) over an area or throughout a space or unit of time
b
: the natural geographic range of a living thing
the distribution of human beings
3
a
: something distributed
b
: frequency distribution
population age distribution
4
: the marketing of goods
distributional
-shnəl How to pronounce distribution (audio)
-shən-ᵊl
adjective

Medical Definition

distribution

noun
dis·​tri·​bu·​tion ˌdis-trə-ˈbyü-shən How to pronounce distribution (audio)
: the pattern of branching and termination of a ramifying anatomical structure (as a nerve or artery)

Legal Definition

distribution

noun
dis·​tri·​bu·​tion ˌdis-trə-ˈbyü-shən How to pronounce distribution (audio)
1
: the act or process of distributing: as
a
: the apportionment by a court of the property and especially personal property of an intestate among those entitled to it according to statute compare descent, devise

Note: The laws dealing with intestate succession are often called laws of descent and distribution.

b
: the payment or transfer to a beneficiary of interest to which he or she is entitled under a trust
c
: the transfer by a corporation or mutual fund of money or property to a shareholder in his or her capacity as a shareholder
d
: the initial offering to the public of a security by a corporation
e
: the delivery of a controlled substance
2
: something distributed
distributive adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on distribution

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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