distinction

[ dih-stingk-shuhn ]
See synonyms for: distinctiondistinctions on Thesaurus.com

noun
  1. a marking off or distinguishing as different: His distinction of sounds is excellent.

  2. the recognizing or noting of differences; discrimination: to make a distinction between right and wrong.

  1. a discrimination made between things as different; special regard or favoritism: Death comes to all without distinction.

  2. condition of being different; difference: There is a distinction between what he says and what he does.

  3. a distinguishing quality or characteristic: It has the distinction of being the oldest house in the town.

  4. a distinguishing or treating with special honor, attention, or favor.

  5. an act of bestowing, or a mark of, honor or favor.

  6. marked superiority; note; eminence.

  7. distinguished appearance.

  8. Obsolete. division; separation.

Origin of distinction

1
First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English distinccioun, from Anglo-French, from Latin distinctiōn-, stem of distinctiō “difference”; equivalent to distinct + -ion

synonym study For distinction

3. Distinction and difference may both refer to perceivable dissimilarities and, in this meaning, may be used interchangeably: There is a distinction ( difference ) between the two. Distinction, however, usually suggests the perception of dissimilarity, as the result of analysis and discrimination: a carefully made distinction between two treatments of the same theme; whereas difference refers only to the condition of being dissimilar: the difference between Gothic and Roman architecture. “A distinction without a difference” is a way of referring to an artificial or false discrimination. 7. See honor.

Other words for distinction

Opposites for distinction

Other words from distinction

  • dis·tinc·tion·less, adjective
  • sub·dis·tinc·tion, noun
  • un·der·dis·tinc·tion, noun

Words Nearby distinction

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use distinction in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for distinction

distinction

/ (dɪˈstɪŋkʃən) /


noun
  1. the act or an instance of distinguishing or differentiating

  2. a distinguishing feature

  1. the state of being different or distinguishable

  2. special honour, recognition, or fame

  3. excellence of character; distinctive qualities: a man of distinction

  4. distinguished appearance

  5. a symbol of honour or rank

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012