Dealer vs He's a distributor

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Dealer

Top 1,000 (very common)B2noun

He's a distributor

Top 5,000 (fairly common)
Most common: Dealer
 DealerHe's a distributor
Pronunciation🇬🇧 /["/ˈdiːlə(r)/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈdiːlər/"]/🇬🇧 //hiz ə dɪsˈtrɪbjʊtə//🇺🇸 //hiz ə dɪˈstrɪbjəṭər//
MeaningA person or business that sells something, especially in gambling or cars.A person who supplies goods to businesses or stores.
Examplean art/antique dealerHe's a distributor for several major brands in the electronics industry.
RegisterNeutralNeutral
How commonTop 1,000 (very common)Top 5,000 (fairly common)
CEFR levelB2-
Part of speechnoun
Collocationsauthorized, licensed, independent, offer, sell, through a/​the dealer, dealer in, authorized, licensed, independent, offer, sell, through a/​the dealer, dealer inauthorized distributor, regional distributor, distributor agreement, distributor network, distributor license
Antonymsbuyer, customer, purchaser-
Common mistakesConfused with 'stealer' or 'healer'., Using 'dealers' as a singular noun instead of plural when needed., Mispronouncing the word with emphasis on the second syllable.Confused with 'retailer' - a distributor sells to stores, not directly to customers., Misused in job titles - specify the type of goods if needed.
Usage notesUse 'dealer' when talking about someone who sells goods like cars or is involved in gambling games. In formal contexts, clarify the type of dealer, such as 'car dealer'. Avoid using in discussions that require technical jargon.Used in business contexts when referring to someone involved in the supply chain. Avoid in casual conversations. Appropriate with titles and responsibilities.

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Dealer
He's a distributor

Frequently asked questions: Dealer vs He's a distributor

What's the difference between Dealer and He's a distributor?

Dealer: A person or business that sells something, especially in gambling or cars. He's a distributor: A person who supplies goods to businesses or stores.

Which is more common: Dealer and He's a distributor?

Dealer is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Dealer: an art/antique dealer He's a distributor: He's a distributor for several major brands in the electronics industry.

Can I use Dealer and He's a distributor interchangeably?

Not always. Dealer and He's a distributor are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.

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