distinction
a marking off or distinguishing as different: His distinction of sounds is excellent.
the recognizing or noting of differences; discrimination: to make a distinction between right and wrong.
a discrimination made between things as different; special regard or favoritism: Death comes to all without distinction.
condition of being different; difference: There is a distinction between what he says and what he does.
a distinguishing quality or characteristic: It has the distinction of being the oldest house in the town.
a distinguishing or treating with special honor, attention, or favor.
an act of bestowing, or a mark of, honor or favor.
marked superiority; note; eminence.
distinguished appearance.
Obsolete. division; separation.
Origin of distinction
1synonym study For distinction
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
That distinction is one reason she’s “in the deflation camp.”
After $20 trillion in pandemic relief spending, there’s still no sign of inflation. What happened? | Bernhard Warner | August 25, 2020 | FortuneThe pack is definitely not waterproof, which is an important distinction when you’re carrying a laptop.
The Matador SEG42 Offers Unrivaled Gear Organization | Graham Averill | August 25, 2020 | Outside OnlineIn 2004, she won election as District Attorney of San Francisco serving with distinction.
One time when this distinction is particularly relevant is following major events such as the debates and party conventions.
How FiveThirtyEight’s 2020 Presidential Forecast Works — And What’s Different Because Of COVID-19 | Nate Silver (nrsilver@fivethirtyeight.com) | August 12, 2020 | FiveThirtyEightWhen we say the brain’s “memory center,” the hippocampus, or the emotion center, the “amygdala,” these distinctions are based on cytoarchitectural maps.
These Scientists Just Completed a 3D ‘Google Earth’ for the Brain | Shelly Fan | August 5, 2020 | Singularity Hub
Although Southern did not automatically equal neo-Confederate, at times the distinction could easily get lost.
Steve Scalise Shows There’s a Fine Line Between Confederate & Southern | Lloyd Green | January 2, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTThe distinction between over-policing and non-responsiveness was alive and well in Bed-Stuy.
That is a distinction with a sociological difference—for many, an uncomfortable one to consider.
But this may be a distinction without much of a difference—especially since Scalise admitted speaking before EURO.
It seems like a nuanced distinction, but it could have huge implications.
What the U.S. Can Learn from Europe About Dealing with Terrorists | Scott Beauchamp | December 15, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTTo Harrison and his wife there was no distinction between the executive and judicial branches of the law.
The Bondboy | George W. (George Washington) OgdenSee the distinction between the "sciences physiques" and the "sciences physiologiques" in the "Anatomic Générale," 1801.
American Addresses, with a Lecture on the Study of Biology | Thomas Henry HuxleyThough by birth duke of St. Cloud, he preferred the ecclesiastical state to political distinction.
The Every Day Book of History and Chronology | Joel MunsellIn ordinary work, however, it is safer to base the distinction upon size than upon structure.
A Manual of Clinical Diagnosis | James Campbell ToddWhen large forms of the lymphocyte are present, the distinction is often difficult or impossible.
A Manual of Clinical Diagnosis | James Campbell Todd
British Dictionary definitions for distinction
/ (dɪˈstɪŋkʃən) /
the act or an instance of distinguishing or differentiating
a distinguishing feature
the state of being different or distinguishable
special honour, recognition, or fame
excellence of character; distinctive qualities: a man of distinction
distinguished appearance
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
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