What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
distributive
Example
The teacher used a distributive approach to assign grades to the students. [distributive: adjective]
Example
The company has a distributive system for delivering products to its customers. [distributive: noun]
dispersive
Example
The dispersive nature of the ink made it difficult to write on the paper. [dispersive: adjective]
Example
The dispersal of the protesters by the police caused chaos in the streets. [dispersal: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Distributive is more common than dispersive in everyday language, especially in academic or technical contexts. Dispersion is a more commonly used noun form of dispersive.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between distributive and dispersive?
Distributive is generally considered more formal than dispersive, which is more commonly used in scientific or environmental contexts.
