distribution

noun

dis·​tri·​bu·​tion ˌdi-strə-ˈbyü-shən 

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: a sum of money withdrawn from a fund (such as a retirement fund) and given to the beneficiary (see beneficiary sense 2c) or holder of the fund

(2)

: dividend sense 1a

b mathematics

(1)

: frequency distribution

(2)

: probability function

(3)

: probability density function sense 2

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

ˌdi-strə-ˈbyü-sh(ə-)nəl 

adjective

Synonyms of distribution

• allocation
• redistribution

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

The company hired longtime Lionsgate distribution chief David Spitz to run domestic releasing and has signaled plans to handle up to a dozen films a year, ranging from specialty to 3,000-screen wide bows. —Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 12 Nov. 2025

Screen reports today that FilmNation has set up a deal to handle sales for 101 Studios’ distribution titles. —Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 12 Nov. 2025

Artists, and anyone else with exclusive licenses, like labels and distribution groups, can sue civilly for damages. —Audrey Gibbs, Nashville Tennessean, 12 Nov. 2025

There is no national distribution date for SNAP benefits, even when the federal government is functioning as usual. —Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 12 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

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

Phrases Containing distribution

• binomial distribution
• chi-square distribution
• cumulative distribution function
• distribution function
• F distribution
• frequency distribution
• Gaussian distribution
• hypergeometric distribution
• normal distribution
• Poisson distribution
• probability distribution
• skew distribution
• student's t distribution
• t distribution
• z distribution

Rhymes for distribution

• absolution
• allocution
• attribution
• comminution
• constitution
• contribution
• convolution
• destitution
• devolution
• diminution
• dissolution
• elocution

Kids Definition

distribution

noun

dis·​tri·​bu·​tion ˌdis-trə-ˈbyü-shən 

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 

-shən-ᵊl

adjective

Medical Definition

distribution

noun

dis·​tri·​bu·​tion ˌdis-trə-ˈbyü-shən 

: 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 

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

di-ˈstri-byu̇-tiv 

adjective