redistribution: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal
Quick answer
What does “redistribution” mean?
The act of distributing something, especially wealth or resources, again or differently.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The act of distributing something, especially wealth or resources, again or differently.
The process of altering the existing allocation or spread of goods, services, capital, land, or opportunities, often to achieve greater equality or fairness.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences; concept is identical. Minor orthographic preferences in related terms (e.g., 'redistributive policy' is standard in both).
Connotations
Often carries strong political connotations (socialist, progressive, or interventionist policies) in both varieties. Can be a neutral technical term in economics or computing.
Frequency
Higher frequency in political and economic discourse in both regions. Slightly higher in UK media due to historical political debates (e.g., 'redistribution of wealth').
Grammar
How to Use “redistribution” in a Sentence
redistribution of [NP] (wealth, resources, land)redistribution to [NP] (the poor, regions)redistribution from [NP] (the rich, central government)redistribution through [NP] (taxation, grants)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “redistribution” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The chancellor plans to redistribute tax burdens.
- We must redistribute the workload more fairly.
American English
- The government aims to redistribute resources to poorer states.
- The algorithm redistributes network traffic to prevent overload.
adverb
British English
- [No standard adverbial form; 'redistributively' is extremely rare and non-standard.]
American English
- [No standard adverbial form; 'redistributively' is extremely rare and non-standard.]
adjective
British English
- Their redistributive agenda proved popular with low-income voters.
- The policy had significant redistributive effects.
American English
- They advocated for a more redistributive tax code.
- The court examined the redistributive impact of the law.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in discussions of corporate restructuring or profit-sharing schemes.
Academic
Common in Economics, Political Science, Sociology, and Development Studies.
Everyday
Limited to discussions of politics, taxes, or social justice.
Technical
Used in computing/data networks for load balancing or data storage.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “redistribution”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “redistribution”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “redistribution”
- Misspelling as 'redestribution'.
- Using it to mean simple 'distribution' (missing the 're-' prefix meaning 'again').
- Confusing with 'redistricting' (US electoral boundaries).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, while most common in economic contexts, it can refer to any resource (e.g., land, power, computing load, parliamentary seats).
It is technically neutral but is heavily connotated based on political viewpoint. Supporters see it as 'fair' or 'just'; opponents may frame it as 'confiscatory' or 'inefficient'.
'Distribution' is the initial or general act of allocating. 'Redistribution' implies a second, deliberate act that changes a previous distribution, usually for a specific purpose like equality.
Yes, in a business context, it's correct to say 'redistribute personnel/workforce' meaning to reassign them to different roles/departments from an existing arrangement.
The act of distributing something, especially wealth or resources, again or differently.
Redistribution is usually formal in register.
Redistribution: in British English it is pronounced /ˌriːdɪstrɪˈbjuːʃ(ə)n/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌriːdɪstrəˈbjuːʃ(ə)n/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms; the term itself is often part of political slogans e.g., 'Redistribution now!']”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: RE (again) + DISTRIBUTION (sharing out) = sharing out AGAIN, often to make things more equal.
Conceptual Metaphor
SOCIETY IS A BODY (with resources as blood/nutrients needing circulation); BALANCE/FAIRNESS IS PHYSICAL EQUILIBRIUM (redistribution 'levels the playing field').
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'redistribution' LEAST likely to be used?