distinction
Americannoun
-
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.
- Antonyms:
- resemblance
-
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.
- Synonyms:
- importance, renown
-
distinguished appearance.
-
Obsolete. division; separation.
noun
-
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
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
Inflected Forms
Nouns
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.
Vocabulary lists containing distinction
The Vocabulary.com Top 1000
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Unit 3: Compelling Evidence
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The Things They Carried
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
New York-based Kalshi calls itself a federally regulated "event contracts" exchange rather than a traditional sportsbook, a distinction that has fuelled legal battles with state regulators.
From Barron's ● Jul. 31, 2026
That distinction could make it a more precise tool for controlling appetite and body weight.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 24, 2026
It is a distinction that matters: Automation can put people out of work, but collaborative technologies leverage workers’ expertise, making them even more valuable.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 23, 2026
Former Scotland and Liverpool forward Sir Kenny Dalglish described Keegan as "one of the very best players of his generation" who "wore Liverpool's famous number seven shirt with great distinction".
From BBC ● Jul. 21, 2026
To be chosen for it would be an unmatched privilege, the highest distinction, an honor.
From "Beasts of Prey" by Ayana Gray
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
On debate stages, candidates still draw distinctions with one another, but they also compliment their opponents and highlight areas of agreement.
From Salon ● Jun. 9, 2026
"Brain-based biological markers reveal distinctions that current behavioral assessments don't fully capture," noted Dr. Di Martino.
From Science Daily ● Jun. 3, 2026
Soldiers have a fine nose for such distinctions.
From "All Quiet on the Western Front: A Novel" by Erich Maria Remarque
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
