distribution
C1Formal / Technical / Academic
Definition
Meaning
The act of giving out or delivering something to multiple recipients or locations; the way in which something is shared or spread out.
In economics, the process of getting goods from producer to consumer; in mathematics, the way values of a variable are spread; in business, the system of logistics and sales; in statistics, the arrangement of frequencies.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word is process-oriented in business/economics (act of distributing) and state-oriented in statistics/mathematics (pattern of spread). Its specific meaning is heavily dependent on field context.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in core meaning. Minor spelling variations in derived forms (e.g., distributor vs. distributor is same). The phrase 'distribution centre' is more common in UK business; 'distribution center' is the US spelling.
Connotations
Slightly more associated with logistics and retail in general US business discourse. In UK academic contexts, strong association with statistics.
Frequency
Very high frequency in academic (all fields), business, and technical writing in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
distribution of [NOUN] (distribution of wealth)[ADJECTIVE] distribution (random distribution)distribution to [RECIPIENT] (distribution to retailers)distribution across/throughout [AREA] (distribution across the region)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Wide distribution”
- “Equal distribution”
- “Hit the distribution channels”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Focus on supply chains, logistics, and retail networks. E.g., 'We need to streamline our distribution to cut costs.'
Academic
Common in statistics (probability distributions), economics (income distribution), geography (population distribution), and biology (species distribution).
Everyday
Less frequent. Used for sharing items (food distribution at an event) or discussing fairness (the distribution of chores).
Technical
Precise meanings in statistics (normal, binomial distribution), electrical engineering (power distribution grid), and computer science (software distribution).
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The charity will distribute the aid parcels tomorrow.
- The leaflets were distributed throughout the neighbourhood.
American English
- The company distributes its products nationwide.
- The teacher distributed the test papers.
adverb
British English
- The resources were distributed equally among the teams.
- The population is distributed unevenly across the country.
American English
- The funds were distributed fairly.
- The tasks were distributed randomly.
adjective
British English
- The distributional effects of the policy were analysed.
- They studied the distributional network.
American English
- They examined the distributional patterns of the data.
- A new distributive agreement was signed.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The distribution of sweets to the children made them happy.
- The map shows the distribution of forests.
- The distribution of work among team members needs to be fair.
- They studied the population distribution in geography class.
- The company improved its distribution network to reach more customers.
- In statistics, a normal distribution forms a bell-shaped curve.
- The unequal distribution of wealth is a major political issue.
- The research analysed the geographic distribution of the species in relation to climate variables.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a TRIbut being given to many people: dis-TRI-bution. The 'tri' can remind you it involves multiple (three+) parties or places.
Conceptual Metaphor
DISTRIBUTION IS A NETWORK (channels, links, nodes); DISTRIBUTION IS A MAP (locations, spread, coverage); FAIR DISTRIBUTION IS A BALANCE (scale, equilibrium).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid directly translating as 'дистрибуция' (a business buzzword) for all contexts. Use 'распределение' for general and statistical contexts. For logistics, 'сбыт' or 'дистрибуция' may fit.
- Do not confuse with 'раздача' (handing out) which is narrower.
- In statistics, 'distribution' is 'распределение', not 'дистрибуция'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'distribution' as a countable noun for a single delivery ('a distribution was made' is OK, but 'we received a distribution' can be ambiguous).
- Confusing 'distribution' with 'delivery' (delivery is the final act to one point; distribution involves a system).
- Incorrect preposition: 'distribution for' instead of 'distribution of/to'.
- Mispronunciation: stressing the first syllable (/ˈdɪstrɪbjuːʃn/) instead of the third.
Practice
Quiz
In which context does 'distribution' MOST LIKELY refer to a specific mathematical function?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is usually uncountable when referring to the general process or system (e.g., 'efficient distribution'). It can be countable when referring to a specific instance, share, or type, especially in statistics (e.g., 'a normal distribution', 'several distributions were tested').
'Delivery' typically focuses on the final act of transporting goods to a specific, single destination or customer. 'Distribution' is broader, encompassing the entire system, network, or process of getting goods from a central point to many different recipients or locations.
It describes how the values of a variable (data) are spread or distributed. It shows the frequency of different outcomes, often visualized in graphs like histograms. Common types include normal distribution, binomial distribution, and uniform distribution.
A distribution channel is the path or route through which goods and services travel from the producer or manufacturer to the end consumer. It can include intermediaries like wholesalers, retailers, distributors, and online platforms.
Collections
Part of a collection
Business Vocabulary
B1 · 50 words · Fundamental language of commerce and trade.
Economics Terms
B2 · 50 words · Key vocabulary for economics and financial systems.
Advanced Business English
C1 · 43 words · Sophisticated language for business and finance.
Public Policy
C1 · 47 words · Language for governance, policy and administration.
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