distinct
Americanadjective
-
distinguished as not being the same; not identical; separate (sometimes followed byfrom ).
His private and public lives are distinct.
- Synonyms:
- individual, discrete
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different in nature or quality; dissimilar (sometimes followed byfrom ).
Gold is distinct from iron.
-
clear to the senses or intellect; plain; unmistakable.
The ship appeared as a distinct silhouette.
- Synonyms:
- well-defined, sharp, unlike, distinguishable, disparate, different
- Antonyms:
- indistinct
-
distinguishing or perceiving clearly.
distinct vision.
-
unquestionably exceptional or notable.
a distinct honor.
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Archaic. distinctively decorated or adorned.
adjective
-
easily sensed or understood; clear; precise
-
(when postpositive, foll by from) not the same (as); separate (from); distinguished (from)
-
not alike; different
-
sharp; clear
-
recognizable; definite
a distinct improvement
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explicit; unequivocal
-
maths logic (of a pair of entities) not identical
-
botany (of parts of a plant) not joined together; separate
Usage
What are other ways to say distinct?
The adjective distinct is used to describe things that are clearly distinguished from others. How does distinct compare to synonyms different, various, and diverse? Find out on Thesaurus.com.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of distinct
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin distinctus, “divided off,” past participle of disting(u)ere “to divide off, pick out, distinguish,” from di- di- 2 + sting(u)ere (unrecorded), presumably, “to prick, mark by pricking”; cf. instinct 1, instigate
Explanation
When something is distinct, it is easily identifiable or set apart from others of its kind. An eighth-grader who is six feet tall has a distinct advantage over the other kids on the basketball court. A thing can be distinct if it is easy to see, either because it is different in some way from the things around it or if it is more clear and visible, as in: “The license number of the getaway car was more distinct once I cleaned my glasses.” The word distinct comes from “to distinguish,” which is when a person or thing is set apart from the pack: “The research that she did was distinct in its attention to detail.”
Vocabulary lists containing distinct
Tier 2 Words for the SBAC ELA Items
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Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
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The SAT: Language of the Test, List 6
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Distinct from postpartum depression and the baby blues, conditions that are pervasive and persistent, D-MER is episodic, flaring and disappearing within minutes, completely related to the act of breastfeeding.
From Slate • Mar. 15, 2026
Distinct from many of the other items which will be displayed, is a clear plastic raincoat from the 1960s.
From BBC • Dec. 26, 2025
Distinct traits, including longer arms, a greater number of teeth, fewer tail vertebrae, and unique skull nerve structures, all appeared early in development and are biologically inconsistent with T. rex.
From Science Daily • Nov. 2, 2025
Distinct proteins, tagged and illuminated by fluorescent antibodies, appear as stacked bands.
From Science Magazine • Jul. 20, 2022
Distinct stages on the one hand, progressive advance on the other, here is the secret of development, the fundamental difference which the human mind can perceive between comparative anatomy and organogeny.
From The Catholic World; Volume I, Issues 1-6 A Monthly Eclectic Magazine by Rameur, E.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
