Phase distortion occurs when the phase relationship between different frequencies in a signal is altered, leading to changes in the waveform. This can happen in various audio processing techniques, such as synthesis or signal processing, where the original sound is modified. The result can create unique timbres or textures that differ from the original sound. In practical applications, phase distortion is often used in electronic music production to create interesting effects. For example, phase distortion synthesis is a method that manipulates the phase of a waveform to generate new sounds, allowing musicians to explore a wide range of sonic possibilities.