distributed

adjective

dis·​trib·​ut·​ed di-ˈstri-byü-təd 

also -byə-

British also ˈdi-stri-ˌbyü-

1

: characterized by a statistical distribution of a particular kind

a normally distributed random variable

2

computing : having at least some of the processing done by the individual workstations and having information shared by and often stored at the workstations

a distributed network

… makes it possible to take massive tasks and spread them out over a large number of personal computers—a practice called distributed computing.

—J. Bonasia

Examples of distributed in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

SpaceX envisions linking the satellites by laser, giving them the power to process information as a single distributed brain. —Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 28 Mar. 2026

That includes ethernet and dedicated internet with speeds up to 100 Gigabits per second, advanced voice and collaboration tools, Comcast Business Mobile, and cybersecurity solutions designed to protect distributed work environments, according to a statement from Comcast. —Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 10 Mar. 2026

These experiences forged his belief in distributed leadership. —Malana Vantyler, USA Today, 11 Feb. 2026

The same rigor needs to be applied to training that is tailored to the distinct skills needed to thrive in a remote setting or manage distributed teams. —Justin Harlan, Fortune, 11 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1968, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing distributed

• distributed denial of service
• evenly distributed
• widely distributed

Rhymes for distributed

• attributed