distributor

noun

dis·​trib·​u·​tor di-ˈstri-byü-tər 

-byə-

1

: one that distributes

2

: one that markets a commodity

especially : wholesaler

3

: an apparatus for directing the secondary current from the induction coil to the various spark plugs of an engine in their proper firing order

Examples of distributor in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Someone posing as a wholesale distributor for an important French retailer approached Neal’s Yard Dairy about purchasing the cheese and vanished with the handcrafted goods before the company noticed it was gone. —Martin Lerma, Robb Report, 28 Oct. 2024

Lionsgate is only on-board as the film’s distributor. —Tim Lammers, Forbes, 25 Oct. 2024

Taylor Farms is voluntarily recalling specific onion products from a Colorado facility, US Foods, a distributor for Taylor Farms, told Axios Thursday. —Kelly Tyko, Axios, 25 Oct. 2024

Federal agents were looking for knockoff military gear as part of an investigation into a distributor, called California Surplus, that had secured a $20 million contract to supply the U.S. military with specialized uniforms. —Annie Palmer,katie Tarasov, CNBC, 25 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1526, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

distributor

noun

dis·​trib·​u·​tor dis-ˈtrib-yət-ər 

1

: one that distributes

2

: an agent or agency for marketing goods

3

: a device that sends electric current to the spark plugs of an engine so that they fire in the proper order