distributor
B2Formal, Business, Technical
Definition
Meaning
A person, company, or mechanism that supplies goods to retailers or end users from a central source.
1) A person or organization that allocates, circulates, or spreads something (e.g., information, resources, electric current). 2) In automotive engineering: a device in an internal combustion engine that passes high-voltage current to the spark plugs in the correct sequence.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The core sense involves a channel in a supply chain between manufacturer and retailer. The automotive sense is technical and specific.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major semantic difference. In business contexts, 'distributor' is equally common in both varieties. Spelling is consistent.
Connotations
Neutral; implies a logistical or commercial function.
Frequency
Equally frequent in business and general contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
distributor of [product]distributor for [company/region]distributor to [market/retailers]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None specific to 'distributor'.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Central role in supply chain management; a company that holds inventory from manufacturers and sells to retailers.
Academic
Used in economics, logistics, and marketing studies to discuss channel management.
Everyday
Less common; might be used when discussing where a product was purchased from.
Technical
Specific component in ignition systems of older petrol engines.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The company is a major food distributor.
- He works for a local distributor.
- We need to find a reliable distributor for our new product line in Europe.
- The film's distributor organised a nationwide release.
- As the sole distributor for the manufacturer in this region, we handle all logistics and sales.
- The faulty distributor cap was causing the engine to misfire.
- The pharmaceutical distributor's stringent cold-chain logistics ensured the vaccine's efficacy upon delivery.
- His analysis critiqued the power dynamics between content creators and digital platform distributors.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a 'tributary' river DISTRIBUTing water. A DISTRIBUTOR distributes goods.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE SUPPLY CHAIN IS A RIVER SYSTEM (the distributor is a branch/ tributary).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct calque from дистрибьютор in informal contexts where 'supplier' or 'dealer' is more natural.
- The Russian word is a direct loan, but its usage spectrum differs slightly.
Common Mistakes
- Confusing 'distributor' (B2B) with 'retailer' (B2C).
- Using 'distributor' for a person who hands out flyers (prefer 'distributor' for systems, 'person handing out' for individuals).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'distributor' used technically?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
A distributor sells products in bulk to businesses (like retailers), not directly to the public. A retailer sells directly to consumers.
Yes, but it's more common as a role within a company ('He is a distributor for...') or for the company itself. For someone handing out items like leaflets, 'distributor' is less common than 'person handing out'.
It is standard in business and technical contexts. In everyday talk, people might use simpler terms like 'supplier' or specify the company's function.
It's a now largely obsolete component in petrol engines that directed high-voltage electricity from the ignition coil to the spark plugs in the correct firing order.