Distinction — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms
Meaning & Definition of Distinction
Distinction (noun)
- the act of perceiving someone or something as being not the same and often treating as separate or different, the distinguishing of a difference; also, the difference distinguished
- something that distinguishes
- the quality or state of being distinguishable
Distinction (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms
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exceptionally high quality
"a shop selling native handicrafts of distinction"
-
a quality that gives something special worth
"has the distinction of being the oldest house in the city"
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public acknowledgment or admiration for an achievement
"I did all of the work, and the other guy got all the distinction"
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the fact or state of being above others in rank or importance
"a number of physicians of national distinction serve on the staff of the teaching hospital"
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something given in recognition of achievement
"won a number of distinctions in her long career as an actress"
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the quality or state of being different
"the distinction between the two photographic prints escapes me"
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the state of being kept distinct
"the distinction between liberty and license is often violated in today's freewheeling society"
Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Distinction
The most common words with a similar meaning to Distinction:
Antonyms & Opposite Words for Distinction
Words with the opposite meaning of Distinction:
Near Antonyms of Distinction
Origin & Etymology of Distinction
First known use: 13th century
Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Distinction
- CEFR level: C1 English Vocabulary — Page 10
- Academic Word List: 570 Academic Word List — Page 5
- Topics: Intellect & Logic
Words & Phrases Containing Distinction
Frequently Asked Questions about Distinction
What does "Distinction" mean?
"Distinction" means the act of perceiving someone or something as being not the same and often treating as separate or different, the distinguishing of a difference; also, the difference distinguished. As a noun, it is defined as: the act of perceiving someone or something as being not the same and often treating as separate or different, the distinguishing of a difference; also, the difference distinguished. It has 7 distinct senses.
What is another word for "Distinction"?
Other words for "Distinction" include choiceness, excellence, excellency, first-rateness, greatness, perfection, preeminence and primeness. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Distinction" you intend.
What are different ways to say "Distinction"?
There are 169 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Distinction". Common alternatives include choiceness, excellence, excellency, first-rateness, greatness, perfection, preeminence, primeness, superbness and superiority.
What is the opposite of "Distinction"?
Antonyms of "Distinction" include deficiency, demerit, disvalue, alikeness, analogousness, analogy, community and likeness. Near antonyms include averageness, badness, crumminess and inferiority.
How do you use "Distinction" in a sentence?
Examples of "Distinction" in a sentence: "a shop selling native handicrafts of distinction"; "has the distinction of being the oldest house in the city"; "I did all of the work, and the other guy got all the distinction".
Is "Distinction" a noun, verb, or adjective?
"Distinction" is a noun.
Is "Distinction" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?
As a C1-level word, "Distinction" is typical of Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE), IELTS band 7.0–8.0, TOEFL iBT 95–113, PTE Academic 76–84, TOEIC Listening & Reading 945+. It is on the Academic Word List, so it appears often in IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, and university texts. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.
How do you pronounce "Distinction"?
"Distinction" is pronounced /di-ˈstiŋ(k)-shən/ and divided into syllables as dis·tinc·tion.