distinction

[dih-stingk-shuhn]

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.

3. a discrimination made between things as different; special regard or favoritism.

   Death comes to all without distinction.

4. condition of being different; difference.

   There is a distinction between what he says and what he does.

   Antonyms: resemblance

5. a distinguishing quality or characteristic.

   It has the distinction of being the oldest house in the town.

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

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

8. marked superiority; note; eminence.

   Synonyms: importance, renown

9. distinguished distinguished appearance.

10. Obsolete.,  division; separation.

distinction

/ dɪˈstɪŋkʃən /

noun

1. the act or an instance of distinguishing or differentiating

2. a distinguishing feature

3. the state of being different or distinguishable

4. special honour, recognition, or fame

5. excellence of character; distinctive qualities

   a man of distinction

6. distinguished appearance

7. a symbol of honour or rank

Other Word Forms

• distinctionless adjective
• subdistinction noun
• underdistinction noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of distinction¹

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

Synonym Study

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. See honor.

Related Words

• characteristic 
• contrast 
• difference 
• differentiation 
• discrepancy 
• discrimination 
• divergence 
• division 
• judgment 
• nicety 
• perception 
• quality 
• sensitivity 
• separation