Standard Lemma guide

distrait

adj · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • /dɪˈstɹeɪ/
  • /ˈdɪstɹeɪ/
  • rhymes with -eɪ

1

adj

Meaning 1

absent-minded, troubled, distracted

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • 1996: John Le Carré, The Tailor of Panama (Knopf 1996, hardback edition, page 221) "Forgive me for being a fraction distrait today. We're trying to prevent another war."

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

adjective satellite

Meaning 2

having the attention diverted especially because of anxiety

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: distracted

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Borrowed from French distrait.

Across languages

Translations

3 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: невнимателен (nevnimatelen) — absent-minded
  • Bulgarian: разсеян (razsejan) — absent-minded
  • French: distrait — absent-minded