distortion
noun
dis·tor·tion
di-ˈstȯr-shən 
1
: the act of twisting or altering something out of its true, natural, or original state : the act of distorting
a distortion of the facts
2
: the quality or state of being distorted : a product of distorting: such as
a
physics
: a lack of proportionality in an image resulting from defects in the optical system
an image free of distortion
b
: falsified reproduction of an audio or video signal (see signal entry 1 sense 4b) caused by change in the wave form of the original signal
Synonyms
Examples of distortion in a Sentence
had to total the car due to a distortion of the chassis resulting from collision
Recent Examples on the Web
Works transposed into foreign languages—and cultures—inevitably suffer omissions and distortion.
—
Judith Shulevitz, The Atlantic, 14 Jan. 2025
The economic distortions created by centralized monetary policy, and the trillions in debt, inflationary pressures, and regulatory overreach that follow are not going away anytime soon.
—Dave Birnbaum, Forbes, 13 Jan. 2025
Grunge and distortion has never sounded so pastelle-like to me.
—Ron Hart, SPIN, 10 Jan. 2025
But popular distortions about it, as well as Critical Race Theory, have been fueled by right-wing think tanks and influencers like Christopher Rufo, a senior fellow at the conservative Manhattan Institute.
—Jude Joffe-Block, NPR, 10 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for distortion 
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Judith Shulevitz, The Atlantic, 14 Jan. 2025
The economic distortions created by centralized monetary policy, and the trillions in debt, inflationary pressures, and regulatory overreach that follow are not going away anytime soon.
—Dave Birnbaum, Forbes, 13 Jan. 2025
Grunge and distortion has never sounded so pastelle-like to me.
—Ron Hart, SPIN, 10 Jan. 2025
But popular distortions about it, as well as Critical Race Theory, have been fueled by right-wing think tanks and influencers like Christopher Rufo, a senior fellow at the conservative Manhattan Institute.
—Jude Joffe-Block, NPR, 10 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for distortion
Dictionary Entries Near distortion
Cite this Entry
“Distortion.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/distortion. Accessed 20 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
distortion
noun
dis·tor·tion
dis-ˈtȯr-shən
1
: the act of distorting
2
: the condition of being distorted or a product of distortion
Medical Definition
distortion
noun
dis·tor·tion
dis-ˈtȯr-shən
1
: the censorship of unacceptable unconscious impulses so that they are unrecognizable to the ego in the manifest content of a dream
2
: a lack of correspondence of size or intensity in an image resulting from defects in an optical system
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