distinction

noun dis·tinc·tion \ di-ˈstiŋ(k)-shən \

Updated on: 6 Apr 2018

Definition of distinction

1 a archaic : division

b : class 4

Mr. Hemingway's … prose is of the first distinction.
—Edmund Wilson

2 : the act of perceiving someone or something as being not the same and often treating as separate or different : the distinguishing of a difference

without distinction as to race, sex, or religion

; also : the difference distinguished

the distinction between imply and infer

3 : something that distinguishes

regional distinctions

4 : the quality or state of being distinguishable

no distinction of facial features in the twins

5 a : the quality or state of being excellent or superior : the quality or state of being distinguished or worthy

a politician of some distinction

b : special honor or recognition

took a law degree with distinction

won many distinctions

c : an accomplishment that sets one apart

holds the distinction of being the only American to win the prize

See distinction defined for English-language learners

See distinction defined for kids

Examples of distinction in a Sentence

There are no obvious distinctions between the two designs.
She made a distinction between the words “less” and “fewer.”
He was raised in a small town of no great distinction.
Her talents gave distinction to the work.

Recent Examples of distinction from the Web

This makes Sesame Place the only theme park to receive such a distinction.

— sonja haller, Cincinnati.com, "'Sesame Street' theme park becomes world's first to get certified autism designation," 3 Apr. 2018
And Shulkin pushed back at an apparent White House attempt to portray his ouster as a resignation, not a firing – a distinction that could stay the president's free hand in designating an interim replacement from outside the department.

— laura king, latimes.com, "In Easter Sunday tirade, a frustrated Trump suggests he will make no deal to help Dreamers," 1 Apr. 2018
For example, at funerals among the Ojibwe (a larger tribal distinction that includes the White Earth Nation), ritually grown tobacco would be placed on the ground to offer prayers to the spirit world for the deceased.

— dina fine maron, Scientific American, "The Fight to Keep Tobacco Sacred," 29 Mar. 2018
Vermont is the only other state to hold a similar distinction of never sending a female to Congress—but the state had a female governor from 1985 to 1991.

— natasha bach, Fortune, "The Senate Just Got Its Record 23rd Female Senator and the White House Isn't Happy About It," 22 Mar. 2018
Kai Restaurant Kai, at the posh Sheraton Grand at Wild Horse Pass near Chandler, is the only restaurant in Arizona to boast a AAA Five Diamond rating and a Forbes Five Star distinction.

— jennifer mcclellan, azcentral, "20 romantic restaurants in Phoenix for your next date night," 21 Mar. 2018
Although the Tesla system is called Autopilot, there’s a potentially life-and-death distinction between the way the Tesla feature is intended for use and the way Uber’s self-driving system is designed.

— pete bigelow, Car and Driver, "First Death Brings Unanswered Questions, Rattles the Self-Driving Future," 20 Mar. 2018
Texas was one of the first states classified as widespread, a distinction currently held by 45 states.

— todd ackerman, Houston Chronicle, "It's official: Texas flu season has peaked," 2 Mar. 2018
Creveling was a yeoman (F), a gender distinction used to ensure that women weren’t assigned tasks or locations permitted only to men.

— zoe sayler, Smithsonian, "During World War I, Many Women Served and Some Got Equal Pay," 1 Mar. 2018

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

Origin and Etymology of distinction

see distinct

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 13th century

See Words from the same year

distinction Synonyms

DISTINCTION Defined for English Language Learners

distinction

noun

Definition of distinction for English Language Learners

: a difference that you can see, hear, smell, feel, etc. : a noticeable difference between things or people
: the separation of people or things into different groups
: importance, excellence, or achievement