distinction

noun

dis·​tinc·​tion di-ˈstiŋ(k)-shən 

1

: 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

2

: something that distinguishes

regional distinctions

3

: the quality or state of being distinguishable

no distinction of facial features in the twins

4

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

5

a

: class sense 4

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

—Edmund Wilson

b

archaic : division

Synonyms

• choiceness
• excellence
• excellency
• first-rateness
• greatness
• perfection
• preeminence
• primeness
• superbness
• superiority
• supremacy

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 on the Web

This distinction is more urgent than ever as AI makes surface-level content alarmingly easy to produce. —Rhea Wessel, Forbes.com, 19 May 2025

That distinction unequivocally belongs to Scheffler, who revealed why that is the case after his PGA Championship victory. —Paul Du Quenoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 May 2025

The key distinction in astrophysical environments is the presence of magnetic fields, which fundamentally alter the nature of turbulent flows. —Victoria Corless, Space.com, 19 May 2025

Neither the best nor the worst of the inexhaustible sub-genre birthed by Steven Spielberg’s unsurpassed classic, Jaws, Byrne’s good-looking film at least has the distinction of being one of the nastiest entries in a while. —David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 17 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

see distinct

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 5b

Phrases Containing distinction

• with distinction

Rhymes for distinction

• extinction
• contradistinction
• tinction

Kids Definition

distinction

noun

dis·​tinc·​tion dis-ˈtiŋ(k)-shən 

1

a

: the seeing or pointing out of a difference

b

: difference sense 1

the distinction between good and evil

2

: something that makes a person or thing special or different

the distinction of being the oldest house in the city

3

a

: particular excellence

served with distinction

b

: special honor or recognition