distinct

adjective dis·tinct \ di-ˈstiŋ(k)t \

Definition of distinct

1 :distinguishable to the eye or mind as being discrete (see discrete 1) or not the same :separate

a distinct cultural group

teaching as distinct from research

2 :presenting a clear unmistakable impression

a neat distinct handwriting

3 archaic :notably decorated

4 a :notable

a distinct contribution to scholarship

b :readily and unmistakably apprehended (see apprehend 2a)

a distinct possibility of snow

a distinct British accent

the distinct odor of sulfur

—

distinctly

play \-ˈstiŋ(k)-tlē, -ˈstiŋ-klē\ adverb

—

distinctness

play \-ˈstiŋ(k)t-nəs, -ˈstiŋk-nəs\ noun

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Examples of distinct in a Sentence

There are three distinct categories.
Each herb has its own distinct flavor.
The phrase has three distinct meanings.
There was the distinct smell of something burning.
The outline became less and less distinct as the light faded.
We had the distinct impression that they were lying.

Recent Examples of distinct from the Web

A proposal has been floated in California to divide the state into three distinct parts, the hope being that would make the place easier to govern: The three Californias would have roughly equivalent populations and wealth.

— paul daugherty, Cincinnati.com, "The Morning Line, 8/30," 30 Aug. 2017
A College Football Playoff berth is a good bet and a fifth national championship in Saban’s Alabama tenure a distinct possibility.

— joe juliano, Philly.com, "What to watch in 2017 college football," 29 Aug. 2017
That’s the voting area in the center of the city formed when the city went to distinct elections early this decade and which theoretically has a majority Latino voting base.

— j. harry jones, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Escondido elections already heating up," 26 Aug. 2017
A Rake’s Progress (helmed by Spike Gjerde of Baltimore’s Woodberry Kitchen) has a local, mid-Atlantic focus, Brothers and Sisters (overseen by Erik Bruner-Yang of D.C.’s Maketto) a distinct Taiwanese feel.

— Condé Nast Traveler, "The Line D.C.," 25 Aug. 2017
This also happened over the course of One Direction’s career after Zayn, with Made in the A.M. boasting distinct songs attributable to one member or another.

— anne t. donahue, Cosmopolitan, "5 Reasons to Worry Fifth Harmony Will Be the Group’s Last Album," 25 Aug. 2017
Trump’s distinct contribution to the dilemma is his response to the failure.

— jonathan chait, Daily Intelligencer, "‘I Alone Can Fix It’ Becomes ‘It’s Not My Fault’," 25 Aug. 2017
Each menu will include distinct choices to appeal to a range of diners.

— erika butler, The Aegis, "Restaurant Week returns in Harford through Aug. 27," 19 Aug. 2017
Rogue One, by contrast, was praised for doing the exact opposite, adopting a tone distinct from those of the Star Wars films that had come before it.

— laura bradley, vanityfair.com, "How Star Wars: The Last Jedi Will—and Won’t—Echo The Empire Strikes Back," 9 Aug. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'distinct.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of distinct

Middle English, from Latin distinctus, from past participle of distinguere — see distinguish

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First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

distinct Synonyms

Synonyms

disparate, dissimilar, distant, different, distinctive, distinguishable, diverse, nonidentical, other, unalike, unlike

Antonyms

alike, identical, indistinguishable, kin, kindred, like, parallel, same, similar

Related Words

divers, miscellaneous, mixed, several, sundry, variant, varied, various; differentiable, discriminable; alternate, alternative, individual, particular, peculiar, single; disproportionate, divergent, unequal

Near Antonyms

equal, selfsame; equivalent, tantamount; akin, analogous, comparable, homological, homologous, related; homogeneous, homogenous, uniform

Synonym Discussion of distinct

distinct, separate, discrete mean not being each and every one the same. distinct indicates that something is distinguished by the mind or eye as being apart or different from others.