What does redistribute mean?
Redistribute means to distribute something again, usually after changing who receives it or how it is divided. The word is especially common in discussions of wealth, income, resources, power, and public services. For example, a government may redistribute tax revenue by funding schools or healthcare, while an organization may redistribute its budget among different projects. Although redistribution can simply mean any reallocation, it often carries a social or political implication, suggesting that the existing arrangement is being challenged or adjusted. The term is widely used in formal public debate as well as in ordinary descriptions of financial and organizational decisions. Its related noun, redistribution, names the process or result, while redistributive describes policies or effects involving a changed allocation of resources or authority.
verbTo distribute something again, usually in a different way or among different recipients. It often implies changing an existing allocation of resources, wealth, power, or responsibilities.
- To distribute again or in a changed way, especially by altering the original allocation of resources, wealth, power, or opportunities.
"The government proposed redistributing some of the tax revenue to fund public services."
"The charity redistributed its funds to support several regional projects."
"The reform would redistribute voting power from the central council to local governments."
Redistribute is the verb behind one of the great political questions of every society: who gets what?
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does redistribute come from?
Redistribute is a modern English compound formed by adding the prefix re-, meaning “again,” to distribute. The older word distribute comes from Latin distribuere, “to distribute” or “to assign separately,” built from dis-, meaning “apart,” and tribuere, meaning “to allot” or “assign.” Related Latin and English forms include contribution, contribution, and distributive, reflecting the same broader history of division and assignment.
Related word forms
How redistribute is actually used
The word is neutral in its basic meaning but frequently appears in political, economic, and social contexts. It can suggest either a deliberate change in allocation or, depending on the speaker's viewpoint, a beneficial correction of inequality.
Easily confused with redistribute
Distribute means to give or spread something out, whereas redistribute means to do so again with a changed allocation or recipient.