distinguished

[dih-sting-gwisht]

adjective

1. made conspicuous by excellence; noted; eminent; famous.

   a distinguished scholar.

   Synonyms: illustrious, renowned

2. having an air of distinction, dignity, or eminence.

   a distinguished old gentleman.

3. conspicuous; marked.

distinguished

/ dɪˈstɪŋɡwɪʃt /

adjective

1. noble or dignified in appearance or behaviour

2. eminent; famous; celebrated

Other Word Forms

• distinguishedly adverb
• nondistinguished adjective
• well-distinguished adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of distinguished¹

First recorded in 1700–10; distinguish + -ed ²

Synonym Study

See famous.

Example Sentences

The success has reiterated how distinguished doubles guru Louis Cayer has transformed the nation's quality and depth through his work at the Lawn Tennis Association.

Read more on BBC

Snapchat’s logo is a ghost and the app distinguished itself from its competitors by giving people a way to share photos and messages that disappeared once someone viewed it.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

At the time, the distinguished art critic Hilton Kramer called him a “conundrum,” noting that “he has never really emerged as a very distinct—much less a glamorous or popular—figure.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

“The Russians have remained very consistent,” said Thomas Graham, a distinguished fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Similarly, Mr. Korshak argues in an essay that “collecting” can be distinguished from “amassing” by establishing a “guiding principle that organizes individual items into a set.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• acclaimed www.thesaurus.com
• brilliant 
• dignified 
• eminent 
• esteemed 
• famed 
• great 
• honored 
• illustrious 
• noble 
• notable 
• noted 
• prominent 
• remarkable 
• renowned 
• reputable 
• venerable 
• well-known