distinction

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noun

Definition of DISTINCTION

1

exceptionally high quality <a shop selling native handicrafts of distinction>

Synonyms choiceness, distinction, excellency, first-rateness, greatness, perfection, preeminence, primeness, superbness, superiority, supremacy

Related Words faultlessness, flawlessness, impeccability, perfectness; goodness, value, worth; consequence, importance, notability

Near Antonyms averageness, badness, crumminess, inferiority, mediocrity, ordinariness, worthlessness

2

a quality that gives something special worth <has the distinction of being the oldest house in the city>

Synonyms cardinal virtue, distinction, excellency, grace, merit, value, virtue

Related Words advantage, edge, plus, superiority

Near Antonyms blemish, defect, failing, fault, flaw; drawback, minus, negative

Antonyms deficiency, demerit, disvalue

3

public acknowledgment or admiration for an achievement <I did all of the work, and the other guy got all the distinction>

Synonyms acclaim, accolade, applause, bay(s), credit, distinction, homage, honor, kudos, laud, laurels, props [slang], réclame, sun

Related Words celebrity, fame, renown, repute; compliment, encomium, eulogy, panegyric, toast, tribute; acclamation, ovation, plaudit, praise, rave, rhapsody; citation, commendation, kudo, note, recommendation; elevation, enshrinement, enthronement, exaltation, glorification

4

the fact or state of being above others in rank or importance <a number of physicians of national distinction serve on the staff of the teaching hospital>

Synonyms distinction, dominance, noteworthiness, paramountcy, preeminence, preponderance, preponderancy, prepotency, prestigiousness, primacy, superiority, supremacy, transcendence

Related Words celebrity, fame, famousness, glory, honor, kudos, renown, reputation, repute; megastardom, stardom, superstardom; greatness, illustriousness, nobleness, notableness; ascendance (also ascendence), ascendancy (also ascendency), authority, domination, dominion; influence, power, prestige, weight; infamy, notoriety

Near Antonyms insignificance; inferiority, mediocrity; obscureness, obscurity

5

something given in recognition of achievement <won a number of distinctions in her long career as an actress>

Synonyms accolade, blue ribbon, decoration, distinction, honor, kudo, plume, premium, prize

Related Words badge, crown, cup, laurel, medal, order, plaque, plate, ribbon, trophy; applause, bravo, encomium, eulogy, hallelujah, homage, paean, panegyric, plaudit, tribute; citation, commendation, compliment, honorable mention

6

the quality or state of being different <the distinction between the two photographic prints escapes me>

Synonyms contrast, disagreement, discrepancy, disparateness, disparity, dissimilarity, dissimilitude, distance, distinction, distinctiveness, distinctness, diverseness, diversity, otherness, unlikeness

Related Words deviance, divergence; differentiability, discriminability, distinguishability; change, modification, variation; conflict, discord, discordance, dissension (also dissention), dissent, dissidence, disunity, friction, strife; variability, variance; anomalousness, dichotomy, incompatibility, incongruence, incongruity, incongruousness, nonconformity; disproportion, imbalance, inequality, nonequivalence

Near Antonyms identicalness, identity; accordance, agreement, conformity, congruity, correspondence, parallelism, similitude; equality, equivalence, equivalency; homogeneity, homogeneousness, uniformity

Antonyms alikeness, analogousness, analogy, community, likeness, resemblance, sameness, similarity

7

the state of being kept distinct <the distinction between liberty and license is often violated in today's freewheeling society>

Synonyms demarcation, discreteness, discrimination, distinction

Related Words differentiation; isolation, segregation

Near Antonyms blurring, confusion