distortion

noun

dis·​tor·​tion di-ˈstȯr-shən 

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-sh(ə-)nəl 

adjective

Synonyms of distortion

• deformation

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

This is a distortion of the law, and a display of callous indifference to the tragedies that moved Congress to pass the Refugee Act. —Elizabeth Holtzman, Time, 9 June 2026

Engineers still need to determine how to precisely measure and compensate for signal distortions across the antenna. —Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 8 June 2026

Projected on an obelisk, this narrowest of histories prefigured the commemorative distortions to follow. —Greg Allen, ARTnews.com, 7 June 2026

Acoustic communication works at longer ranges but introduces Doppler distortion (frequency shift from movement), multipath interference (echoes bouncing off the seafloor and surface), and noise that can harm marine life. —Omar Kardoudi june 06, New Atlas, 6 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

see distort

First Known Use

1581, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for distortion

• abortion
• apportion
• contortion
• extortion
• proportion
• disproportion
• portion
• torsion

Kids Definition

distortion

noun

dis·​tor·​tion dis-ˈtȯr-shən 

1

: the act of distorting

2

: the condition of being distorted or a product of distortion

distortional

-shnəl 

-shən-ᵊl

adjective

Medical Definition

distortion

noun

dis·​tor·​tion dis-ˈtȯr-shən 

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