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distributive

[ dih-strib-yuh-tiv ]

adjective

  1. serving to distribute, assign, allot, or divide; characterized by or pertaining to distribution.
  2. Grammar. referring to the members of a group individually, as the adjectives each and every.
  3. Logic. (of a term) distributed in a given proposition.
  4. Mathematics.
    1. (of a binary operation) having the property that terms in an expression may be expanded in a particular way to form an equivalent expression, as a ( b + c ) = ab + ac.
    2. having reference to this property:

      distributive law for multiplication over addition.

    3. (of a lattice) having the property that for any three elements, the intersection of the first element with the union of the others is equal to the intersection of the first element with each of the others.


noun

  1. a distributive word or expression.

distributive

/ dɪˈstrɪbjʊtɪv /

adjective

  1. characterized by or relating to distribution
  2. grammar referring separately to the individual people or items in a group, as the words each and every
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


noun

  1. grammar a distributive word
  2. maths able to be distributed:

    multiplication is distributive over addition

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

distributive

/ dĭ-strĭbyə-tĭv /

  1. Relating to the property of multiplication over division which states that applying multiplication to a set of quantities that are combined by addition yields the same result as applying multiplication to each quantity individually and then adding those results together. Thus 2 × (3 + 4) is equal to (2 × 3) + (2 × 4).
  2. See also associative


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Derived Forms

  • disˈtributively, adverb
  • disˈtributiveness, noun
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Other Words From

  • dis·tribu·tive·ly adverb
  • dis·tribu·tive·ness noun
  • nondis·tribu·tive adjective
  • nondis·tribu·tive·ly adverb
  • nondis·tribu·tive·ness noun
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Word History and Origins

Origin of distributive1

1425–75; late Middle English distributif < Middle French < Late Latin distribūtīvus ( distribute, -ive )
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Example Sentences

There is a need of decentralization of power and more distributive digital models.

Throughout, the book puts intergenerational equity and various forms of distributive politics at its center.

So, I am advocating a global economy that is regenerative by design, works within the cycles of the living world, and that is distributive by design, shares value far more equitably with everyone who’s co-creating it.

Greg Sargent at The Washington Post has charted the distributive effect of the ACA tax increases.

The distributive share of each child has amounted to only about one-third of the sum then contemplated.

The term "great men" is distributive in the premises and collective in the conclusion.

During the forties, consumers' or distributive cooperation was also given a trial.

Next in order comes the "establishment of cooperative institutions productive and distributive."

The career of distributive cooperation in America has always been intimately related to the movements of retail prices and wages.

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distributismdistributive bargaining