The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 7 letter word WARPAGE
W
A
R
P
A
G
E
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Distortion" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case distortion = warpage.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does WARPAGE mean?
WARPAGE noun- The act of warping.
- A charge per ton made on shipping.