distinctionnoun
uk/dɪˈstɪŋk.ʃən/us/dɪˈstɪŋk.ʃən/distinction noun (DIFFERENCE)
B2 [ C or U ] a difference between two similar things:
There's a clear distinction between the dialects spoken in the two regions.
This company makes no distinction between the sexes.
More examples
- It's sometimes very difficult to draw a clear distinction between the meanings of different words.
- There is a sharp distinction between crimes which involve injury to people and those that don't.
- I wasn't convinced by the minister's nice distinction between a lie and an untruth.
- This film blurs the distinction between reality and fantasy.
- The distinction between Ms McArthur and her countless imitators is the elegance of her writing.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Different and difference
- a breath of fresh air idiom
- a whole new ballgame idiom
- a world of difference idiom
- alternative
- another
- clash
- contrary
- differential
- distinctive
- distorted
- diverge
- divergence
- divers
- divide
- permutation
- refreshing
- several
- step
- sundry
- tangential
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distinction noun (HIGH QUALITY)
[ U ] the quality of being excellent:
a writer/scientist/wine of distinction
[ C ] UK a mark given to students who produce work of an excellent standard
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Quality and standard
- benchmark
- cachet
- calibre
- conform
- conformance
- conformity
- grade
- level
- mark
- notch
- plane
- prestige
- qualitative
- quality
- quality assurance
- quality control
- star
- status
- style
- upscale
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distinction noun (SPECIAL)
C2 [ S ] the quality of being special or different:
She has the distinction of being one of the few people to have an honorary degree conferred on her by the university this year.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Exceptional qualities, things and people
- a gift from the gods idiom
- be a one idiom
- character
- chosen
- curiosity
- distinctive
- exoticism
- gift
- have-a-go hero
- hero
- heroine
- individual
- one
- personal touch
- rare
- rare bird idiom
- superman
- superwoman
- the chosen few idiom
- unique
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