distinction
Pluraldistinctions
- 1The act of distinguishing or telling apart; the drawing of differences between things.
The essay relies on a careful distinction between cause and correlation.
Philosophers spent centuries refining the distinction between knowledge and belief.
Similardifferentiation, discrimination, separation, contrast
- 2Something about a person or thing that marks it out as different from the rest of its type.
The novel's chief distinction is its unusual second-person narration.
Among desert reptiles, the gecko's adhesive toe pads are a notable distinction.
Similarfeature, characteristic, hallmark, peculiarity, trait
- 3A feature or honor that marks someone or something as better than others; eminence or excellence in rank or achievement.
The scientist earned distinction for her work on vaccines.
He served with such distinction that the regiment named an award after him.
Similarhonor, excellence, eminence, renown, merit
Oppositemediocrity, obscurity
- 4That which distinguishes; a particular difference or dividing factor that separates one thing from another.
A crucial distinction separates legal ownership from physical possession.
The treaty rested on a fine distinction between defense and aggression.
Similardifference, contrast, differentiation, division
Oppositesimilarity, resemblance
Practice
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Origin
This comes from Middle English distinccioun, from Old French distinction (recorded from the 12th century), which was borrowed from Latin distinctiōnem, an action noun of distinguō meaning "to separate or distinguish." It is attested in English from the late 14th century.