distinction

American  

[dih-stingk-shuhn] / dɪˈstɪŋk ʃən /

noun

• distinctions
  plural

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 appearance.

10. Obsolete. division; separation.

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distinction British  

/ 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

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Synonym Usage

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.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• subdistinction
  noun
• underdistinction
  noun
• distinctionless
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• distinctions
  plural

Etymology

Origin of distinction

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

Explanation

When you are marked for distinction, it means you are someone who is going to do well in life. You will set yourself apart from others. Distinction means being set apart, often by excellence. When things are distinct from one another, they are different. It is the distinctions that make them this way. In your school, an outside observer might at first be unable to see the distinctions among the kids, but with a little time they'll be able to see how kids are identified and associated with their peculiar qualities.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

distinction distinctions

Rep. Gabe Evans, who is running for reelection in Colorado, described the distinction as “gangbangers, not grandmas.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 27, 2026

"In this case, that distinction was decisive: removing NUDT5 revealed biology that conventional inhibitors missed."

From Science Daily ● Sep. 24, 2026

The law that created the center, he said, makes no distinction between the powers of different trustees, and it doesn’t permit the board to discriminate between them on powers, including the right to vote.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 22, 2026

That distinction proved critical when organisers and broadcast partner Netflix began lobbying to move the show to the United States.

From BBC ● Sep. 21, 2026

For the weeks and months that I’ve been back from France, I don’t think I would have believed there was a distinction.

From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse

Initially the two personas were separate; Alexander’s shocking success blurred their distinctions.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 2, 2026

Rather than reacting only to familiar properties such as color or intensity, it detects subtle quantum distinctions in the incoming light.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 8, 2026

She puzzles out the distinctions among nursing homes, assisted living facilities and continuing care retirement communities, as well as home healthcare.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 20, 2026

Hemani’s answer is that constitutional rights cannot turn on analogies that survive only because the categories have been defined so broadly that the distinctions disappear.

From Slate ● Jun. 26, 2026

Understanding these distinctions can help to guide educators in addressing different learning needs of children.

From "Music and the Child" by Natalie Sarrazin

Related Words

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