What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
dealer
Example
The car dealer offered us a good price for our trade-in. [dealer: noun]
Example
He works as a dealer for a popular electronics brand. [dealer: noun]
Example
The police arrested the drug dealer for possession and distribution. [dealer: noun]
distributor
Example
The distributor supplies our store with fresh produce every week. [distributor: noun]
Example
The movie distributor is responsible for getting the film into theaters. [distributor: noun]
Example
She works as a distributor for a popular beauty brand. [distributor: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Dealer is more commonly used than distributor in everyday language, especially in the context of buying and selling cars or drugs. However, distributor is more commonly used in business and industry contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between dealer and distributor?
Distributor is generally considered more formal than dealer, as it is more commonly used in business and industry contexts.
