distribute

/dɪˈstɹɪbjuːt/

//dɪˈstɹɪbjuːt// verb

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"distribute" is a 10-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“distribute” has 15 generated spelling variants in the English index at frequency #9,736. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#9,736
frequency rank, English
3,470
“D” headwords
15
tracked misspellings
3
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - To divide into portions and dispense.

Corpus desk

Index EN-distribute · distribute · English

distribute · rank #9,736 · 15 variants · 3 confusables

  • FREQ-COMMON #9,736
  • LEN-MEGA 10 letters
  • VOW-4 4 vowels
  • CONFUS-LOW 3 pairs
  • VAR-HIGH 15 variants
  • BOOK-MID 3,470
  • PHOTO-FINISH dong

Nearest frequency peer: dong (+1 rank slots)

Read with this headword: Spelling guide for this pattern

Desk codes from Wiktionary headword shape, FrequencyWords rank tier, confusable-pair count, generated misspelling depth, letter-cohort book size, and photo-finish peer. Not a difficulty grade.

Rank peers near misspelling magnet “distribute”

Same rarity band: useful when a typo lands on a peer headword

corpus weight

What this shows “distribute” sits among these FrequencyWords peers; misspelling depth is tracked separately in the edit-distance chart.

Source FrequencyWords open word-frequency list As of September 3, 2026

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

distribute vs distributed
91% similar
distribute vs distributor
82% similar
distribute vs distributive
83% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for distribute
PropertyValue
Headworddistribute
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
IPA/dɪˈstɹɪbjuːt/
Letters10
Frequency rank#9,736
Misspellings tracked15
Confusable pairs3
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Frequency seat of misspelling magnet “distribute”

Word frequency stretches from the small set of words we reach for constantly (left) out to the long tail barely used once in a while (right).distributelands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Same rarity band neighbours include “dong” (#9,737), “devils” (#9,734), “Edgar” (#9,738). Among 3,470 “D” headwords, “distribute” is #9,736. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

A misspelling magnet

The generator records 15 spelling variants around distribute (IPA /dɪˈstɹɪbjuːt/), averb. Corpus frequency is #9,736 among 3,470 “D” headwords. Wiktionary lists 11 senses, so context still picks the gloss.

Our generated misspelling index lists 15 likely wrong-spelling variants for distribute, with forms such as "ddistribute", "disrtibute", and "disstribute". Each variant is a distinct typo pattern an edit-distance generator flags, typically a doubled-consonant error, a silent-letter drop, or a vowel substitution. It also participates in 3 confusable-pair relationships, "distributed", "distributor", "distributive", a pairing that trips writers up because the two words share enough sound or shape to blur together.

Etymologically, the entry records: PIE word *tréyes From Latin distributus, past participle of distribuere (“to divide, distribute”), from dis- (“apart”) + tribuere (“to give, impart”); see tribute. The correct English form is distribute, spelled D-I-S-T-R-I-B-U-T-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    To divide into portions and dispense.
  2. 2
    To supply to retail outlets.
  3. 3
    To deliver or pass out.
  4. 4
    To scatter or spread.
  5. 5
    To apportion (more or less evenly).
  6. 6
    To classify or separate into categories.
  7. 7
    To be distributive.
  8. 8
    To separate (type which has been used) and return it to the proper boxes in the cases.
  9. 9
    To spread (ink) evenly, as upon a roller or a table.
  10. 10
    To employ (a term) in its whole extent; to take as universal in one premise.
  11. 11
    To have employees working remotely from multiple locations.

Recorded use

Wiktionary examples

These source excerpts show how distribute appears in context. They illustrate usage; the definition above remains the entry’s reference meaning.

  1. He distributed the bread amongst his followers.
  2. The agency distributes newspapers to local shops.

Etymology

PIE word *tréyes From Latin distributus, past participle of distribuere (“to divide, distribute”), from dis- (“apart”) + tribuere (“to give, impart”); see tribute.

Synonyms

allotdispendparcel outcourierdispersesparblestrewdispersecategorizesortclassifyadministerallocateapportiondealdeal outdispartdispensedistributedividedole outissuegive outmete outpiecemealportion outshareshare outsunder out

Antonyms

amassconcentrateconsolidategatherreassemble

This word in other languages

distribuir(Español)distribuer(Français)aufteilen(Deutsch)distribuir(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as:

  • ddistribute
  • disrtibute
  • disstribute
  • distirbute
  • distrbiute
  • distribbute
  • distribtue
  • distribuet
  • distributte
  • distriubte
  • distrribute
  • disttribute
  • ditsribute
  • dsitribute
  • idstribute

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of distribute - counted as single-character edits (an insertion, a deletion, or a substituted letter). The larger the bar, the easier the typo is to spot; one-edit slips are the ones that sneak past readers.

ddistribute1disrtibute2disstribute1distirbute2distrbiute2distribbute1distribtue2distribuet2
Edit distance from "distribute"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "distribute"?
"distribute" is spelled D-I-S-T-R-I-B-U-T-E. The IPA pronunciation is /dɪˈstɹɪbjuːt/.
What does "distribute" mean?
As a verb, "distribute" means: To divide into portions and dispense.
What words are commonly confused with "distribute"?
"distribute" is commonly confused with "distributed", "distributor", "distributive". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "distribute"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "distribute" is /dɪˈstɹɪbjuːt/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "distribute"?
PIE word *tréyes From Latin distributus, past participle of distribuere (“to divide, distribute”), from dis- (“apart”) + tribuere (“to give, impart”); see tribute. See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Similar English words by spelling shape

Same letter count and similar misspelling depth for "distribute", not the corpus desk frequency band.

Same letter count

Frequency-ranked English headwords with 10 letters (nearest by frequency rank).

companions#9,720goalkeeper#9,753capitalist#9,716imprisoned#9,768

Similar misspelling depth

Headwords with a similar count of attested misspellings (15 here; floor ≥5).

efficiently15 variantsconstable15 variantsunpleasant15 variantsthankfully15 variants

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list