Pronunciation: [dɪstɹˈʌst] (IPA) 
The word "distrust" is spelled with a "d" at the beginning and "t" at the end. The IPA phonetic transcription for this word is /dɪsˈtrʌst/. The first syllable is pronounced with a short "i" sound and the "s" is pronounced with a soft "s" sound. The second syllable is pronounced with a short "u" sound and the "t" is pronounced with a hard "t" sound. The word means lack of trust or confidence in someone or something.
Distrust is a noun that refers to the lack of confidence, belief, or faith in someone or something. It is an emotion or feeling that arises when there is suspicion or doubt about the reliability, sincerity, or credibility of a person, organization, or concept.
When someone distrusts another, they are skeptical of their intentions, honesty, or ability to act in their best interest. This lack of trust can result from past negative experiences, suspicion of ulterior motives, or a general sense of caution. Distrust can be associated with feelings of suspicion, unease, and skepticism.
In interpersonal relationships, distrust can often lead to tension, conflict, and distance between individuals. It affects the overall level of openness and willingness to share thoughts, feelings, and ideas. At a societal level, widespread distrust can hinder cooperation, impede progress, and undermine social cohesion.
Distrust can also extend to non-human entities, such as governments, institutions, systems, or even ideas. The lack of trust in these entities often arises from perceived corruption, deception, or a history of broken promises. Consequently, distrust can prompt individuals to question authority, demand transparency, and seek alternative solutions.
Overall, distrust is a fundamental human emotion that arises in response to doubt, suspicion, or skepticism about the reliability, sincerity, or credibility of someone or something. It has far-reaching implications in interpersonal relationships and societal dynamics, influencing overall trust levels, cooperation, and the willingness to believe in and rely upon others.
• Doubt or suspicion; want of confidence, faith, or reliance.
• To doubt or suspect; not to confide in or rely on.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "distrust" is derived from the combination of two elements: "dis-" and "trust".
The prefix "dis-" is of Latin origin and signifies negation or reversal. It is seen in various English words such as "dislike", "disable", and "disconnect".
The word "trust" comes from the Old Norse word "traust" or "trausti", which meant "confidence" or "reliance". It entered Middle English around the 13th century when the Normans brought their language to England. Over time, "trust" evolved to refer to faith, confidence, or belief in someone or something.
When "dis-" is added before "trust", it creates the word "distrust", which means the opposite of trust. It indicates a lack of faith or confidence in someone or something.
