distinguishing

American  

[dih-sting-gwi-shing] / dɪˈstɪŋ gwɪ ʃɪŋ /

adjective

1. distinctive; characteristic, as a definitive feature of an individual or group.

   Intricate rhyming is a distinguishing feature of her poetry.

---

Other Word Forms

• distinguishingly
  adverb
• nondistinguishing
  adjective
• self-distinguishing
  adjective
• undistinguishing
  adjective
• undistinguishingly
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of distinguishing

First recorded in 1660–70; distinguish + -ing ²

Example Sentences

But the market may be growing savvier about distinguishing between companies at risk of disruption and those set to benefit from AI.

From Barron's • May 7, 2026

You’re kind of distinguishing her from what we now think of as YA, “Young Adult.”

From Slate • Apr. 18, 2026

In the study, one chelator was able to capture metal ions effectively, but it did so without distinguishing between different types.

From Science Daily • Apr. 7, 2026

The only distinguishing features were a few hurried strips of grilled chicken and a light dusting of Tony Chachere’s — not stirred into the sauce, mind you, but sprinkled on top, like an afterthought.

From Salon • Apr. 7, 2026

Unlike big-men, chiefs could be recognized from afar by visible distinguishing features, such as a large fan worn over the back on Rennell Island in the Southwest Pacific.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond