distinct

American  

[dih-stingkt] / dɪˈstɪŋkt /

adjective

1. distinguished as not being the same; not identical; separate (sometimes followed byfrom ).

   His private and public lives are distinct.

   Synonyms:

   individual, discrete

2. different in nature or quality; dissimilar (sometimes followed byfrom ).

   Gold is distinct from iron.

3. 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

4. distinguishing or perceiving clearly.

   distinct vision.

5. unquestionably exceptional or notable.

   a distinct honor.

6. Archaic. distinctively decorated or adorned.

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distinct British  

/ dɪˈstɪŋkt /

adjective

1. easily sensed or understood; clear; precise

2. (when postpositive, foll by from) not the same (as); separate (from); distinguished (from)

3. not alike; different

4. sharp; clear

5. recognizable; definite

   a distinct improvement

6. explicit; unequivocal

7. maths logic (of a pair of entities) not identical

8. botany (of parts of a plant) not joined together; separate

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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

• distinctly
  adverb
• distinctness
  noun

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.”

Example Sentences

The country's growth model "has bifurcated into two distinct trends: weakening domestic demand and a shining performance in high-tech products", she said.

From Barron's • May 18, 2026

At the time of Narvekar’s arrival, the then-$35.7 billion endowment managed 40% of its assets internally, operating as a giant investment firm with teams of specialized staffers investing in distinct areas, like real estate.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 16, 2026

That leaves the distinct possibility that Williamson believed Becerra knew what was happening — but never asked him.

From Los Angeles Times • May 15, 2026

It’s possible to hold on to two truths at once and recognize the distinct unease of such grasping, I told my friend.

From Salon • May 14, 2026

All these differences contributed to a distinct class awareness, and even snobbery, in some of the young women who joined Marina Raskova’s regiments.

From "A Thousand Sisters" by Elizabeth Wein

Related Words

• discrete
• disparate
• dissimilar
• distinctive
• divergent
• diverse
• offbeat
• particular
• peculiar
• separate
• special
• specific
• unique
• various