distributive

/dɪsˈtɹɪbjʊtɪv/

//dɪsˈtɹɪbjʊtɪv// adj

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

"distributive" is a 12-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“distributive” has 18 generated spelling variants in the English index at frequency #49,876. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#49,876
frequency rank, English
3,470
“D” headwords
18
tracked misspellings
3
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - Relating to distribution.

Corpus desk

Index EN-distributive · distributive · English

distributive · rank #49,876 · 18 variants · 3 confusables

  • FREQ-MID #49,876
  • LEN-MEGA 12 letters
  • VOW-5 5 vowels
  • CONFUS-LOW 3 pairs
  • VAR-HIGH 18 variants
  • BOOK-MID 3,470
  • PHOTO-FINISH dissension

Nearest frequency peer: dissension (-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 “distributive”

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

corpus weight

What this shows “distributive” 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).

distributive vs distribute
83% similar
distributive vs distribution
83% similar
distributive vs distributing
83% similar

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

Key facts for distributive
PropertyValue
Headworddistributive
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechAdjective
IPA/dɪsˈtɹɪbjʊtɪv/
Letters12
Frequency rank#49,876
Misspellings tracked18
Confusable pairs3
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Frequency seat of misspelling magnet “distributive”

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).distributivelands here:

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

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Same rarity band neighbours include “dissension” (#49,875), “disregards” (#49,874), “dominus” (#49,878). Among 3,470 “D” headwords, “distributive” is #49,876. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

A misspelling magnet

The generator records 18 spelling variants around distributive (IPA /dɪsˈtɹɪbjʊtɪv/), anadjective. Corpus frequency is #49,876 among 3,470 “D” headwords. Wiktionary lists 5 senses, so context still picks the gloss.

Our generated misspelling index lists 18 likely wrong-spelling variants for distributive, with forms such as "ddistributive", "disrtibutive", and "disstributive". Every one of these variants traces to a single-character edit -- an added or dropped letter, a swapped consonant, or a vowel swap -- the kind of slip a spell-checker is built to catch. It also participates in 3 confusable-pair relationships, "distribute", "distribution", "distributing", where similar look or sound leads writers to substitute one word for another in context.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle French distributif, from Latin distribūtīvus. The correct English form is distributive, spelled D-I-S-T-R-I-B-U-T-I-V-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    Relating to distribution.
  2. 2
    Tending to distribute; serving to divide and assign in portions; dealing a proper share to each.
  3. 3
    A property of functions that have a rule describing how the function can be performed to the individual components of another operation.
  4. 4
    Assigning the species of a general term.
  5. 5
    Expressing separation; denoting a taking singly, not collectively.

Recorded use

Wiktionary examples

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

  1. [I]t is worth obſerving the diſtributive Juſtice of the Authors, which is conſtantly applied to the Puniſhment of Virtue, and the Reward of Vice; […]
  2. If function f is distributive with respect to function g, then f(a,g(b,c))=g(f(a,b),f(a,c)).

Etymology

From Middle French distributif, from Latin distribūtīvus.

This word in other languages

distributif(Français)distributiv(Deutsch)distributivo(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as:

  • ddistributive
  • disrtibutive
  • disstributive
  • distirbutive
  • distrbiutive
  • distribbutive
  • distribtuive
  • distribuitve
  • distributiev
  • distributivve
  • distributtive
  • distributvie
  • distriubtive
  • distrributive
  • disttributive
  • ditsributive
  • dsitributive
  • idstributive

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of distributive - measured in single-character edits (insert, delete, or substitute a letter). Larger bars are easier to catch; one-edit slips are the sneakiest.

ddistributive1disrtibutive2disstributive1distirbutive2distrbiutive2distribbutive1distribtuive2distribuitve2
Edit distance from "distributive"

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 "distributive"?
"distributive" is spelled D-I-S-T-R-I-B-U-T-I-V-E. The IPA pronunciation is /dɪsˈtɹɪbjʊtɪv/.
What does "distributive" mean?
As an adjective, "distributive" means: Relating to distribution.
What words are commonly confused with "distributive"?
"distributive" is commonly confused with "distribute", "distribution", "distributing". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "distributive"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "distributive" is /dɪsˈtɹɪbjʊtɪv/. 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 "distributive"?
From Middle French distributif, from Latin distribūtīvus. 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 "distributive", not the corpus desk frequency band.

Same letter count

Frequency-ranked English headwords with 12 letters (nearest by frequency rank).

exhilaration#49,908contemptible#49,841computerised#49,836Gainsborough#49,935

Similar misspelling depth

Headwords with a similar count of attested misspellings (18 here; floor ≥5).

inscrutable18 variantsharmoniously18 variantsfurtherance18 variantssystematics18 variants

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

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list