someone who markets merchandise
"The local distributor marketed our new line of sports equipment to hundreds of gyms across the state."
a person with authority to allot or deal out or apportion
"The regional manager acted as the distributor, carefully apportioning the limited supplies among the twenty branches based on their current needs."
a company that markets merchandise
"his company is a large distributor of software products"
electrical device that distributes voltage to the spark plugs of a gasoline engine in the order of the firing sequence
"The mechanic replaced the faulty distributor because the car was misfiring due to incorrect spark timing."
One who or that which distributes.
"The local grocery store acts as a distributor for fresh produce across several nearby towns."
In plain English: A distributor is someone who sells products to other businesses so they can sell them to regular customers.
"The movie distributor decided to release the film in theaters next month."
Usage: A distributor is a person or company that supplies goods to retailers or other businesses rather than selling directly to consumers. Use this term when referring to an intermediary in the supply chain, such as a beverage distributor delivering soda to grocery stores.
The word distributor comes from combining the verb distribute with the agent suffix -or to mean one who distributes. It entered English directly through French and Latin roots without a significant shift in its core meaning of spreading or handing out items.