DISTINCTION Definition & Meaning

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distinction

[ dih-stingk-shuhn ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

a marking off or distinguishing as different:
His distinction of sounds is excellent.
the recognizing or noting of differences; discrimination:
to make a distinction between right and wrong.
a discrimination made between things as different; special regard or favoritism:
Death comes to all without distinction.
condition of being different; difference:
There is a distinction between what he says and what he does.
Antonyms:
a distinguishing quality or characteristic:
It has the distinction of being the oldest house in the town.
a distinguishing or treating with special honor, attention, or favor.
an act of bestowing, or a mark of, honor or favor.
marked superiority; note; eminence.
Synonyms: ,
distinguished distinguished appearance.
Obsolete. division; separation.

distinction

/ ��ɪˈ��ɪŋ��ʃə�� /

noun

the act or an instance of distinguishing or differentiating
a distinguishing feature
the state of being different or distinguishable
special honour, recognition, or fame
excellence of character; distinctive qualities
a man of distinction
distinguished appearance
a symbol of honour or rank

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Other 51�Թ� Forms

�徱��·�پ��Գ�t��ǲ�·�� adjective
��ܲ�d��·�پ��Գ�t��ǲ� noun
�ܲ�d��·�徱��·�پ��Գ�t��ǲ� noun

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51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of distinction¹

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English distinccioun, from Anglo-French, from Latin �徱��پ��Գ��پ�ō��-, stem of �徱��پ��Գ��پ�ō “difference”; equivalent to distinct + -ion

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Synonym Study

Distinction and difference may both refer to perceivable dissimilarities and, in this meaning, may be used interchangeably: There is a distinction ( difference ) between the two. Distinction, however, usually suggests the perception of dissimilarity, as the result of analysis and discrimination: a carefully made distinction between two treatments of the same theme; whereas difference refers only to the condition of being dissimilar: the difference between Gothic and Roman architecture. “A distinction without a difference” is a way of referring to an artificial or false discrimination. See honor.

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Ferguson cut an irate figure as he spoke to BBC Scotland after just his seventh match in charge of the club he served with distinction as a player.

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Thus it is, in the United States at least, whether through merger or hostile takeover, that there is now no meaningful distinction between conservative, far-right and fascist; they are also identified with the Republican Party.

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As with all things, there is a hierarchy of sorts, a distinction of echelons—not in flavor, but in cachet.

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During a ceremony in the capital, Niamey, Gen Tchiani said of his new military rank: "I receive this distinction with great humility... I will strive to live up to the trust placed in me."

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“We didn’t flee. I never call us refugees. We were émigrés,” Merzbacher told me in a late-life interview, stressing the distinction.

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