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

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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

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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

"His transfer from one low-security facility to another is an important distinction," Combs' spokesman told the BBC, adding that the move "is consistent with a decision made with safety and security in mind".

From BBC ● Oct. 16, 2026

Musk drew a distinction between the Starshield system, which Ukraine relies on for battlefield communications, and the parallel Starlink civilian satellite system, which Ukraine also deploys but is not allowed to use for offensive operations.

From Barron's ● Oct. 14, 2026

New research from LMU suggests that people make a clear distinction between displaying intelligent behavior and possessing a conscious mind, even when humans and AI act in precisely the same way.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 14, 2026

McDonald’s own financial projections offer some reason to examine that distinction carefully.

From Salon ● Oct. 11, 2026

The fact that the Japanese had attacked Hawaii rather than invaded the continental United States was a distinction that neither of us bothered to quibble over.

From "Jacob Have I Loved" by Katherine Paterson

Treating scientific opinion as simply “for” or “against” risks flattening these important distinctions.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 9, 2026

The elderly Douglass insisted that the country needed not new founding principles but the diligent application of those principles it already possessed without distinctions of race, sex, color or religion.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 4, 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

Once we got to Sing Sing, however, these distinctions were never made again, at least by officers.

From "Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing" by Ted Conover

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Related Words

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

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