diff --git a/symspellpy/symspellpy.py b/symspellpy/symspellpy.py
index 4b41b87..b46a342 100644
--- a/symspellpy/symspellpy.py
+++ b/symspellpy/symspellpy.py
@@ -84,6 +84,7 @@ def __init__(
         max_dictionary_edit_distance: int = 2,
         prefix_length: int = 7,
         count_threshold: int = 1,
+        distance_comparer: Optional[EditDistance] = None,
     ) -> None:
         if max_dictionary_edit_distance < 0:
             raise ValueError("max_dictionary_edit_distance cannot be negative")
@@ -95,6 +96,10 @@ def __init__(
             )
         if count_threshold < 0:
             raise ValueError("count_threshold cannot be negative")
+        if distance_comparer is None:
+            self.distance_comparer = EditDistance(DistanceAlgorithm.DAMERAU_OSA_FAST)
+        else:
+            self.distance_comparer = distance_comparer
         self._words: Dict[str, int] = {}
         self._below_threshold_words: Dict[str, int] = {}
         self._bigrams: Dict[str, int] = {}
@@ -104,7 +109,7 @@ def __init__(
         self._max_dictionary_edit_distance = max_dictionary_edit_distance
         self._prefix_length = prefix_length
         self._count_threshold = count_threshold
-        self._distance_algorithm = DistanceAlgorithm.DAMERAU_OSA_FAST
+        #  self._distance_algorithm = DistanceAlgorithm.DAMERAU_OSA_FAST
         self._max_length = 0
 
     @property
@@ -129,19 +134,6 @@ def deletes(self) -> Dict[str, List[str]]:
         """
         return self._deletes
 
-    @property
-    def distance_algorithm(self) -> DistanceAlgorithm:
-        """The current distance algorithm."""
-        return self._distance_algorithm
-
-    @distance_algorithm.setter
-    def distance_algorithm(self, value: DistanceAlgorithm) -> None:
-        if not isinstance(value, DistanceAlgorithm):
-            raise TypeError(
-                "can only assign DistanceAlgorithm type values to distance_algorithm"
-            )
-        self._distance_algorithm = value
-
     @property
     def entry_count(self) -> int:
         """Number of unique correct spelling words."""
@@ -445,7 +437,6 @@ def early_exit():
             candidates.append(phrase[:phrase_prefix_len])
         else:
             candidates.append(phrase)
-        distance_comparer = EditDistance(self._distance_algorithm)
         while candidate_pointer < len(candidates):
             candidate = candidates[candidate_pointer]
             candidate_pointer += 1
@@ -577,7 +568,7 @@ def early_exit():
                         if suggestion in considered_suggestions:
                             continue
                         considered_suggestions.add(suggestion)
-                        distance = distance_comparer.compare(
+                        distance = self.distance_comparer.compare(
                             phrase, suggestion, max_edit_distance_2
                         )
                         if distance < 0:
@@ -683,7 +674,6 @@ def lookup_compound(
             )
         suggestions = []
         suggestion_parts: List[SuggestItem] = []
-        distance_comparer = EditDistance(self._distance_algorithm)
 
         # translate every item to its best suggestion, otherwise it remains
         # unchanged
@@ -761,7 +751,7 @@ def lookup_compound(
                             continue
                         # select best suggestion for split pair
                         tmp_term = f"{suggestions_1[0].term} {suggestions_2[0].term}"
-                        tmp_distance = distance_comparer.compare(
+                        tmp_distance = self.distance_comparer.compare(
                             terms_1[i], tmp_term, max_edit_distance
                         )
                         if tmp_distance < 0:
@@ -858,7 +848,7 @@ def lookup_compound(
             joined_term = helpers.case_transfer_similar(phrase, joined_term)
         suggestion = SuggestItem(
             joined_term,
-            distance_comparer.compare(phrase, joined_term, 2**31 - 1),
+            self.distance_comparer.compare(phrase, joined_term, 2**31 - 1),
             int(joined_count),
         )
         return [suggestion]
diff --git a/tests/test_symspellpy.py b/tests/test_symspellpy.py
index 08cf2f4..ab48be6 100644
--- a/tests/test_symspellpy.py
+++ b/tests/test_symspellpy.py
@@ -4,7 +4,8 @@
 import pytest
 
 from symspellpy import SymSpell, Verbosity
-from symspellpy.editdistance import DistanceAlgorithm
+from symspellpy.abstract_distance_comparer import AbstractDistanceComparer
+from symspellpy.editdistance import DistanceAlgorithm, EditDistance
 from symspellpy.helpers import DictIO
 
 FORTESTS_DIR = Path(__file__).resolve().parent / "fortests"
@@ -36,6 +37,11 @@ def get_dictionary_stream(request):
     yield dict_stream, request.param
 
 
+class CustomDistanceComparer(AbstractDistanceComparer):
+    def distance(self, string_1: str, string_2: str, max_distance: int) -> int:
+        return 0
+
+
 class TestSymSpellPy:
     def test_negative_max_dictionary_edit_distance(self):
         with pytest.raises(ValueError) as excinfo:
@@ -64,26 +70,13 @@ def test_negative_count_threshold(self):
             _ = SymSpell(1, 3, -1)
         assert "count_threshold cannot be negative" == str(excinfo.value)
 
-    @pytest.mark.parametrize(
-        "algorithm",
-        [
-            DistanceAlgorithm.LEVENSHTEIN,
-            DistanceAlgorithm.DAMERAU_OSA,
-            DistanceAlgorithm.LEVENSHTEIN_FAST,
-            DistanceAlgorithm.DAMERAU_OSA_FAST,
-        ],
-    )
-    def test_set_distance_algorithm(self, symspell_default, algorithm):
-        symspell_default.distance_algorithm = algorithm
-        assert algorithm == symspell_default.distance_algorithm
-
-    def test_set_invalid_distance_algorithm(self, symspell_default):
-        with pytest.raises(TypeError) as excinfo:
-            symspell_default.distance_algorithm = 1
-        assert (
-            "can only assign DistanceAlgorithm type values to distance_algorithm"
-            == str(excinfo.value)
+    def test_set_distance_comparer(self):
+        distance_comparer = EditDistance(
+            DistanceAlgorithm.USER_PROVIDED, CustomDistanceComparer()
         )
+        sym_spell = SymSpell(distance_comparer=distance_comparer)
+
+        assert distance_comparer == sym_spell.distance_comparer
 
     @pytest.mark.parametrize("symspell_short", [None, 0], indirect=True)
     def test_create_dictionary_entry_negative_count(self, symspell_short):