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.
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.
distinguished appearance.
Obsolete. division; separation.
Origin of distinction
1175–1225; Middle English distinccioun (<Anglo-French ) <Latin distinctiōn- (stem of distinctiō), equivalent to distinct(us) (see distinct) + -iōn--ion
SYNONYMS FOR distinction
8 renown, importance.
SEE SYNONYMS FOR distinction ON THESAURUS.COM
ANTONYMS FOR distinction
4 resemblance.
SEE ANTONYMS FOR distinction ON THESAURUS.COM
synonym study for distinction
3. 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. 7. See honor.
In 2004, she won election as District Attorney of San Francisco serving with distinction.
Biden-Harris a historic, winning ticket|Peter Rosenstein|August 12, 2020|Washington Blade
One time when this distinction is particularly relevant is following major events such as the debates and party conventions.
How FiveThirtyEight’s 2020 Presidential Forecast Works — And What’s Different Because Of COVID-19|Nate Silver (nrsilver@fivethirtyeight.com)|August 12, 2020|FiveThirtyEight
When we say the brain’s “memory center,” the hippocampus, or the emotion center, the “amygdala,” these distinctions are based on cytoarchitectural maps.
These Scientists Just Completed a 3D ‘Google Earth’ for the Brain|Shelly Fan|August 5, 2020|Singularity Hub
Although Southern did not automatically equal neo-Confederate, at times the distinction could easily get lost.
Steve Scalise Shows There’s a Fine Line Between Confederate & Southern|Lloyd Green|January 2, 2015|DAILY BEAST
The distinction between over-policing and non-responsiveness was alive and well in Bed-Stuy.
Ground Zero of the NYPD Slowdown|Batya Ungar-Sargon|January 1, 2015|DAILY BEAST
That is a distinction with a sociological difference—for many, an uncomfortable one to consider.
No Gods, No Cops, No Masters|James Poulos|January 1, 2015|DAILY BEAST
But this may be a distinction without much of a difference—especially since Scalise admitted speaking before EURO.
GOP Boss Gets Help From ‘White Hate’ Pal|Tim Mak|December 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
There is, in fact, a distinction in the level of protection.
Fact-Checking the Sunday Shows: Dec. 14|PunditFact.com|December 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
One quarrelsPg 259 equally with the points of resemblance and of distinction.
Life of Lord Byron, Vol. II|Thomas Moore
How early this distinction was adopted I have not been able to discover.
Dissertation on Slavery|St. George Tucker.
In all these three forms of action there is much to stir men to love of distinction.
Speeches, Addresses, and Occasional Sermons, Volume 2 (of 3)|Theodore Parker
While they discussed the distinction between the words, a beautiful girl had all at once stood before them.
We Two|Edna Lyall
Your foreign laborer is quick to appreciate such a distinction and quick to respond to it.
One Way Out|William Carleton
British Dictionary definitions for distinction
distinction
/ (dɪˈstɪŋkʃən) /
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 qualitiesa man of distinction