Contrastive distribution

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A contrastive distribution in linguistics is a relationship between two or more different elements which can appear in the same context, but cause a change in meaning when one is substituted for another in that context. A contrastive distribution is demonstrated with a minimal pair.

Contrastive distribution is distinct from complementary distribution (when two elements cannot be substituted for one another) and free variation (where speech sounds can be substituted without changing the meaning).