distinction
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distinction
- /dɪˈstɪŋkʃən/
Where it comes from
From Middle English distinccioun, from Old French distinction (attested from the 12th century), borrowed from Latin distinctiōnem, action noun of distinguō (“separate, distinguish”). By surface analysis, distinct (“to distinguish”) + -ion. Attested in English from the late 14th century.
noun distinctions
- That which distinguishes; a single occurrence of a determining factor or feature, the fact of being divided; separation, discrimination. The proper course for me, gentlemen of the jury, is to deal first with the earliest charges that have been falsely brought against me, and with my earliest accursers; and then with the later ones. I make this distinction because […]
- The act of distinguishing, discriminating; discrimination. There is a distinction to be made between resting and slacking.
-
A feature that causes someone or something to stand out from others of its type.
Gedeon Van Rompay had the dubious distinction of being the only Site employee personally hired by Edwin Falkirk, former All Sections Chief and perennial piece of human trash. Lillian had found it easy not to hold this against the man, but only because there were so many other odious things about him
Similar: cachet
-
A feature that causes someone or something to stand out as being better; a mark of honour, rank, eminence or excellence; the quality of being distinguished.
She had the distinction of meeting the Queen.
Similar: cachet
- Punctuation or typographical marks. Shakespeare and friends would call punctuation “distinctions,” according to the Latin tradition, or “pointing,” because of the medieval practice of placing dots or points at different levels of the line.
Opposite: confusion
Thesaurus
Closest in meaning: differentiation, preeminence, eminence, note, differentiate, distinguishing, distinguish, distinctness, distinctiveness, discriminate, discrimination, differential, discernment, exception, contradistinction, difference
noun
Opposite: confusion
Translations
Every language
noun that which distinguishes; a single occurrence of a determining factor or feature, the fact of being divided; separation, discrimination
| Español | distinción |
|---|---|
| 日本語 | 区別 kubetsu, 違い chigai |
| 中文 | 分別 /分别 fēnbié |
| Português | distinção |
| Français | distinction, différence |
| Deutsch | Unterschied |
| Ελληνικά | διάκριση diákrisi |
| Română | distincție, deosebire, diferență, distingere |
| Русский | разли́чие razlíčije, отли́чие otlíčije, ра́зница ráznica |
noun the act of distinguishing, discriminating; discrimination
| Deutsch | Distinktion |
|---|---|
| Română | distingibilitate |
| Русский | разграниче́ние razgraničénije |
| العربية | تَمْيِيز tamyīz |
noun specifically, a feature that causes someone or something to stand out as being better; a mark of honour, rank, eminence or excellence; being distinguished
| Español | distinción, prestancia |
|---|---|
| Português | distinção |
| Deutsch | Auszeichnung |
| Ελληνικά | διάκριση diákrisi |
| Русский | отли́чие otlíčije |
Talk about this word "distinction." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/distinction. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. distinction. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/distinction "distinction." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/distinction.Cite this
@misc{distinction_2026,
title = {distinction},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/distinction},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
