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Meaning & use

distributive

adjective·Advancedtechnical

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UK/dɪˈstrɪbjʊtɪv/
US/dɪˈstrɪbjətɪv/

Meanings

  1. adjectivebefore a nounmathematics

    In mathematics, describing a rule by which an operation spreads over a sum, so that a(b + c) equals ab + ac.

    Grammar: Usually in the distributive property or distributive law.

    Patterns

    • distributive property
    • distributive law

    The distributive property lets you multiply each term in the bracket separately.

    Students used the distributive law to expand the expression.

    Multiplication is distributive over addition.

  2. adjectivebefore a nountechnical

    In grammar, referring to each member of a group one at a time, as with each, every and either.

    Grammar: Applied to words that treat individuals separately.

    Patterns

    • distributive determiner

    Each is a distributive word because it points to people one by one.

    Grammarians call every a distributive determiner.

    The distributive form in this sentence tells us the cost is per person.

  3. adjectivebefore a nounspecialist

    Relating to the sharing out of goods, income or resources among people.

    Grammar: Common in economics and philosophy: distributive justice.

    Patterns

    • distributive justice

    Distributive justice asks who should receive what.

    The study looked at distributive effects of the new tax.

    Economists debate the distributive impact of tariffs.

Common combinations

distributive property
The distributive property simplifies the algebra.
distributive justice
Distributive justice deals with fair shares.
distributive law
The distributive law applies to both sets.
distributive effect
The policy has a strong distributive effect on rural families.
distributive trade
Retail and wholesale form the distributive trades.

Synonyms and how they differ

allocative
Allocative is used mostly in economics for how resources are assigned, and has no math or grammar use.
apportioning
Apportioning describes the act of dividing, while distributive is the property of a rule or concept.
redistributive
Redistributive means moving wealth from some people to others, a narrower meaning than distributive.

Opposites

collective

Word family

distribute verb
to share out among many
distribution noun
the act of sharing out or spreading
distributor noun
a company or person that supplies goods
distributively adverb
in a way that treats items one by one

Commonly confused: distributive or commutative? distributive or associative?

distributive vs commutative

A commutative rule means order does not matter, as in a + b = b + a, while a distributive rule spreads an operation across a sum.

distributive vs associative

An associative rule means grouping does not matter, a different property from distributive.

Practice

Using the ____ property, 3(x + 4) can be rewritten as 3x + 12.

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