distribution

distribution — noun

1. the activity of providing goods, supplies, or other items to the people or place

1.nounB1
Definition

the activity of providing goods, supplies, or other items to the people or places that need them

Example

The charity handled the distribution of food and blankets to earthquake survivors.

collocation: distribution of [goods/aid/supplies]

Aarav works in a distribution centre where he checks orders before they are shipped.

collocation: distribution centre / distribution network

Common collocations
  • fair distribution
  • equitable distribution
  • food distribution
  • distribution centre
  • distribution network
  • distribution channel
  • distribution system
Synonyms
  • allocation

    focuses on deciding how much each person or group gets, not the physical act of giving out

  • supply

    broader term covering both making available and the amount available; less specific than distribution

  • delivery

    emphasises the physical transport and handover of items to their destination

Antonyms
  • collection

    the act of gathering items together rather than giving them out

Grammar Patterns

distribution + of + [goods/supplies]

Usage Note

Often used with a following of-phrase that names the goods or recipients: distribution of food, distribution of resources. The word is usually uncountable, though a countable use (distributions) occurs in specialised business contexts.

Common Mistakes

The distribution of the letters was done by the postman every morning.
The letters were delivered by the postman every morning.
'distribution' refers to the overall system or process of giving out, not a single act of hand-delivery.

2. the pattern or arrangement of things or people across a physical area, showing w

2.nounB2
Definition

the pattern or arrangement of things or people across a physical area, showing where each is located relative to the others

Example

The map shows the distribution of different bird species across the island.

collocation: distribution of [animals/plants/species]

The population distribution in this country is uneven, with most people living in coastal cities.

collocation: population distribution

Common collocations
  • population distribution
  • geographical distribution
  • even distribution
  • uneven distribution
  • wide distribution
  • age distribution
  • spatial distribution
Synonyms
  • spread

    more informal; describes the fact that something covers an area without implying a deliberate pattern

  • arrangement

    focuses on the order and positioning of items, often with the idea of design or planning

  • dispersion

    more technical; emphasises how scattered or concentrated the items are

Antonyms
  • concentration

    the state of being gathered densely in one place rather than spread out

Grammar Patterns

distribution + of + [people/things] + across/throughout + [place]

Usage Note

Frequently used with an adjective describing the nature of the spread: even/uneven distribution, wide/narrow distribution, geographical distribution.

Common Mistakes

The distribution of the chairs in the room was very messy.
The chairs were arranged very messily in the room.
for the physical arrangement of everyday objects, 'arrangement' or 'layout' is more natural than 'distribution'.

3. in mathematics and statistics, the arrangement of data that shows how often each

3.nounB2
Definition

in mathematics and statistics, the arrangement of data that shows how often each different number or measurement occurs, usually presented in a graph or chart

Example

The test scores followed a normal distribution, with most students scoring near the average.

collocation: normal distribution

A frequency distribution chart shows how many times each answer was chosen in the survey.

collocation: frequency distribution

Common collocations
  • normal distribution
  • frequency distribution
  • probability distribution
  • distribution curve
  • distribution of incomes
  • binomial distribution
  • uniform distribution
  • bell-shaped distribution
Synonyms

Grammar Patterns

[adjective] + distribution

distribution + of + [variable]

Usage Note

In statistics, the word can be both countable (different distributions can be compared) and uncountable (the general concept of distribution). Common adjectives: normal, binomial, uniform, random, frequency, probability.

Common Mistakes

The distribution of the class was 30 students.
The distribution of test scores showed that most students scored between 70 and 85.
in statistics, 'distribution' refers to how values are spread, not the count of items itself.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Distribution, allocation, supply, and dispensation all involve giving items to people, but they differ in scope and focus. Distribution is the broadest term, covering the entire process of moving goods from a central point to multiple recipients — it includes logistics, transport, and handover. Allocation focuses on the decision about how much each person or group receives, often based on a formula or budget, without emphasising the physical movement. Supply is broader still, referring both to the amount available and the act of making it available; it can be used for abstract things such as 'water supply' or 'power supply'. Dispensation is more formal and usually involves authorising the giving out of something, such as medicine by a pharmacist or funds under a rule. For example: the government handled the distribution of aid, but the allocation for each region was decided by local officials, and the medical team ensured the dispensation of vaccines was properly recorded.

distribution ↗allocation ↗supply ↗dispensation

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • distribution network
  • distribution channel
  • distribution centre
  • distribution system
  • chain of distribution

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Distribution comes from Latin distributio, from distribuere meaning 'to divide and give out'. The prefix dis- means 'apart' and tribuere means 'to assign or allot'. The word entered English through Old French in the 14th century, originally referring to the act of dividing land or property. Its use in statistics dates from the late 19th century.