Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- noun The act of distinguishing; differentiation.
- noun The condition or fact of being dissimilar or distinct; difference: synonym: difference.
- noun A distinguishing factor, attribute, or characteristic.
- noun Excellence or eminence, as of performance, character, or reputation.
- noun A special quality or accomplishment conferring uniqueness or honor.
- noun Recognition of achievement or superiority; honor.
- noun An award or honor given to someone for outstanding achievement.
from The Century Dictionary.
- noun The act of distinguishing, either by giving a distinctive mark or character to the object or objects distinguished, or by observing the existing marks and differences.
- noun A note or mark of difference; a distinguishing quality or character; a characteristic difference: followed by between.
- noun Difference in general; the state or fact of not being the same.
- noun Distinctness.
- noun The power of distinguishing differences; discrimination; discernment; judgment.
- noun The state of being distinguished; eminence; superiority; elevation of character or of rank in society; the manifestation of superiority in conduct, appearance, or otherwise.
- noun That which confers or marks eminence or superiority; office, rank, or favor.
- noun The act of distinguishing or treating with honor.
- noun Synonyms Distinctness, Distinction. Distinctness has kept the narrower literal sense of the state or quality of being distinct; distinction has been extended to more active meanings, as the mark of difference, the quality distinguishing, superiority by difference, outward rank, honors rendered to one as superior, etc.
- noun Diversity, etc. See
difference . - noun Rank, note, repute, fame, renown, celebrity.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- noun obsolete A marking off by visible signs; separation into parts; division.
- noun The act of distinguishing or denoting the differences between objects, or the qualities by which one is known from others; exercise of discernment; discrimination.
- noun That which distinguishes one thing from another; distinguishing quality; sharply defined difference.
- noun Estimation of difference; regard to differences or distinguishing circumstance.
- noun Conspicuous station; eminence; superiority; honorable estimation.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun That which
distinguishes ; a singleoccurrence of adetermining factor or feature, the fact of being divided;separation ,discrimination . - noun The act of distinguishing, discriminating;
discrimination - noun specifically, a feature that that causes someone or something to stand out as being better; a mark of
honour ,rank ,eminence orexcellence ; beingdistinguished .
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- noun a distinguishing quality
- noun a discrimination between things as different and distinct
- noun a distinguishing difference
- noun high status importance owing to marked superiority
Etymologies
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
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Examples
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In short, perhaps we can argue that the distinction, such as it is, between Socrates and his humanity is merely a ˜distinction of reason™.
Ontological Dependence Lowe, E. Jonathan 2009
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The distinction cannot therefore be dismissed as a ˜distinction without a difference™.
Existence Miller, Barry 2002
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The rubrics also prescribe that the priest keep his hands closed for the Lord's prayer, a rubric that does set it in distinction from the typical practice in this regard.
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But the main distinction is this: Here, the students are being coerced to participate in a patriotic exercise, not a religious exercise.
The Volokh Conspiracy » Ninth Circuit Upholds “Under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance, 2010
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The main distinction is that fusion power produces no high-level radioactive waste (though activated plant materials still need to be disposed of).
Archive 2007-08-01 2007
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The main distinction is that fusion power produces no high-level radioactive waste (though activated plant materials still need to be disposed of).
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In my mind the main distinction is that in Kenya there were no extermination camps.
The Secret History 2005
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In my mind the main distinction is that in Kenya there were no extermination camps.
The Secret History 2005
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In my mind the main distinction is that in Kenya there were no extermination camps.
The Secret History 2005
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The strategy, it seems to me, that they can best adopt to achieve and maintain distinction, is to cherish diversity.
Can We Have Equality of Opportunity, and Excellence, Too? 1988
BrainyBabe commented on the word distinction
One evening, after that meal which the Otchkinsons, observing a finer distinction than the Ramerils, called dinner when they had company, but supper when they were alone... - ''Yashima, or, The Gorgeous West'' by R T Sherwood, 1931.
December 24, 2008