distributed systems: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Medium in technical contexts, Low in generalTechnical, Formal
Quick answer
What does “distributed systems” mean?
A collection of independent computers that communicate and coordinate to appear as a single coherent system.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A collection of independent computers that communicate and coordinate to appear as a single coherent system.
A computing model where components on networked computers interact via message passing to achieve a common goal; often involving concepts like fault tolerance, scalability, and concurrency.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical or semantic differences. Spelling of related terms may vary (e.g., 'centre' vs. 'center').
Connotations
Identical technical connotations in both dialects.
Frequency
Equally frequent in academic and industry discourse in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “distributed systems” in a Sentence
[verb] distributed systemsdistributed systems [preposition] [noun][adjective] distributed systemsVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “distributed systems” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The software will distribute the tasks across the servers.
- They distribute the data to regional centres.
American English
- The platform distributes the workload evenly.
- We need to distribute the updates to all nodes.
adjective
British English
- The distributed database improves redundancy.
- Their team works in a distributed manner across countries.
American English
- A distributed network minimizes single points of failure.
- The company adopted a distributed work model.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Discussed in IT strategy for scalability and resilience, e.g., 'Our business relies on distributed systems for global operations.'
Academic
A core subject in computer science, covering algorithms, protocols, and models like consensus and replication.
Everyday
Rarely used; may appear in news about technology or internet infrastructure.
Technical
The primary domain, referring to systems design, implementation, and analysis in computing.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “distributed systems”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “distributed systems”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “distributed systems”
- Using 'distribution systems' (logistics) interchangeably with 'distributed systems' (computing).
- Omitting the -ed in 'distributed' (e.g., 'distribute systems').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
The CAP theorem states that a distributed system can only guarantee two out of three properties: Consistency, Availability, and Partition tolerance.
Through redundancy, replication, and fault-tolerant protocols that allow the system to continue operating despite partial failures.
Microservices are a design pattern often implemented using distributed systems principles, but not all distributed systems are microservices.
A protocol used in distributed systems to achieve agreement on a single data value among distributed nodes, essential for consistency.
A collection of independent computers that communicate and coordinate to appear as a single coherent system.
Distributed systems is usually technical, formal in register.
Distributed systems: in British English it is pronounced /dɪˈstrɪbjuːtɪd ˈsɪstəmz/, and in American English it is pronounced /dɪˈstrɪbjʊtɪd ˈsɪstəmz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a 'distributed system' like a postal network: many post offices (nodes) work independently but together deliver mail (services) across regions.
Conceptual Metaphor
A distributed system is like an ant colony: individual ants (nodes) operate autonomously but collectively solve complex tasks through simple interactions.
Practice
Quiz
Which is a key challenge in distributed systems?