Distinction
noun
A difference or contrast between similar things or people.
There is a clear distinction between the two cases in court.
Often appears as...
- clear distinction
- make a distinction
noun
Excellence that sets someone or something apart from others.
She achieved distinction in her field through hard work and dedication.
Often appears as...
- achieve distinction
- award of distinction
noun
A decoration, award, or honor recognizing achievement or excellence.
She graduated with distinction from the university.
Often appears as...
- graduate with distinction
- award with distinction
noun
The separation of things or ideas into different categories to see where they are different or similar.
The distinction between fact and opinion can be tricky at times.
Often appears as...
- distinction between fact and opinion
- distinction of categories
Usage tips
Academic
noun
A difference or contrast between similar things or people.
There is a clear distinction between the two cases in court.
Often appears as...
- clear distinction
- make a distinction
noun
Excellence that sets someone or something apart from others.
She achieved distinction in her field through hard work and dedication.
Often appears as...
- achieve distinction
- award of distinction
noun
A decoration, award, or honor recognizing achievement or excellence.
She graduated with distinction from the university.
Often appears as...
- graduate with distinction
- award with distinction
noun
The separation of things or ideas into different categories to see where they are different or similar.
The distinction between fact and opinion can be tricky at times.
Often appears as...
- distinction between fact and opinion
- distinction of categories
Usage tips
Academic
Definition 1 of 4
Pro Tip 1/3Slight differences
Use 'distinction' to emphasize minor yet significant differences between things that are nearly the same.
His painting style has a subtle distinction from his mentor's.
Pro Tip 2/3Comparison clarity
When comparing, 'distinction' highlights the characteristics that set them apart.
The distinction in flavors is due to the unique blend of spices.
Pro Tip 3/3Multiple aspects
'Distinction' can express differences in both physical characteristics and immaterial qualities.
His writing shows a distinction in both tone and technique.
Pro Tip 1/3Slight differences
Use 'distinction' to emphasize minor yet significant differences between things that are nearly the same.
His painting style has a subtle distinction from his mentor's.
Pro Tip 2/3Comparison clarity
When comparing, 'distinction' highlights the characteristics that set them apart.
The distinction in flavors is due to the unique blend of spices.
Pro Tip 3/3Multiple aspects
'Distinction' can express differences in both physical characteristics and immaterial qualities.
His writing shows a distinction in both tone and technique.
Pro Tip 1/3Slight differences
Use 'distinction' to emphasize minor yet significant differences between things that are nearly the same.
His painting style has a subtle distinction from his mentor's.
Pro Tip 2/3Comparison clarity
When comparing, 'distinction' highlights the characteristics that set them apart.
The distinction in flavors is due to the unique blend of spices.
Pro Tip 3/3Multiple aspects
'Distinction' can express differences in both physical characteristics and immaterial qualities.
His writing shows a distinction in both tone and technique.
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Video examples
Are you a body with a...
With the development of psychology and neuroscience, scientists have weighed in, as well. Many modern scientists reject the idea that there's any distinction between the mind and body. Neuroscience suggests that our bodies, along with their physical senses, are deeply integrated with the activity in our brains
Video examples
He Tastes Water Like...
what are so many in no way it has to be from the onion or something like this this cannot be real fascinated you are a water sommelier correct and you believe that there are many types of water and flavors of water and then it's important to know the distinction I'm not even
Video examples
The dangers of...
but it might not be because you fired a gun recently it could be that you happen to hail that particular taxi you open the door you sat down you've got the belts and you managed to pick up some gunshot residue that was already there that is a very important distinction
Video examples
Poison vs. venom: What's...
and don't use a tourniquet or knife on your wound. Most importantly, don't panic! Stay calm, and seek medical attention. Treatment will mostly depend on what species you encountered. But if you forget the distinction between poison and venom, and tell the parademics
Video examples
Why you don’t like the...
And that's the case of schizophrenic patients, who have auditory hallucinations. Who can't distinguish at all between voices coming from inside and outside their head. So in our lab, we are also working on small devices to help those people make those distinctions
Video examples
How to recognize a...
As Europe suffered unprecedented industrial warfare, new political movements took power. Some promised to erase all social distinctions, while others sought to unite people around a mythical heritage. The results were real-world dystopias
Video examples
Rethinking infidelity...
But the truth is that I have noticed that quite a lot of people who have affairs may feel terribly guilty for hurting their partner, but they don't feel guilty for the experience of the affair itself. And that distinction is important.
Video examples
Clever Sea Lion...
large number of individual shapes into categories the question that this test raises is does she know that all the letters relate to each other as do all the numbers and to help Rio make a clearer distinction between the two
Video examples
What really matters at...
can become about making life more wonderful, rather than just less horrible. Beneficence. Here, this gets right at the distinction between a disease-centered and a patient- or human-centered model of care,
Video examples
Learning from dirty jobs...
when all we do is talk about somebody else's responsibility as though it's our own, and vice versa. Anyhow, a whole lot of things. I could talk at length about the many little distinctions we made
Video examples
Are you a body with a...
With the development of psychology and neuroscience, scientists have weighed in, as well. Many modern scientists reject the idea that there's any distinction between the mind and body. Neuroscience suggests that our bodies, along with their physical senses, are deeply integrated with the activity in our brains
Video examples
He Tastes Water Like...
what are so many in no way it has to be from the onion or something like this this cannot be real fascinated you are a water sommelier correct and you believe that there are many types of water and flavors of water and then it's important to know the distinction I'm not even
Video examples
The dangers of...
but it might not be because you fired a gun recently it could be that you happen to hail that particular taxi you open the door you sat down you've got the belts and you managed to pick up some gunshot residue that was already there that is a very important distinction
Video examples
Poison vs. venom: What's...
and don't use a tourniquet or knife on your wound. Most importantly, don't panic! Stay calm, and seek medical attention. Treatment will mostly depend on what species you encountered. But if you forget the distinction between poison and venom, and tell the parademics
Video examples
Why you don’t like the...
And that's the case of schizophrenic patients, who have auditory hallucinations. Who can't distinguish at all between voices coming from inside and outside their head. So in our lab, we are also working on small devices to help those people make those distinctions
Video examples
How to recognize a...
As Europe suffered unprecedented industrial warfare, new political movements took power. Some promised to erase all social distinctions, while others sought to unite people around a mythical heritage. The results were real-world dystopias
Video examples
Rethinking infidelity...
But the truth is that I have noticed that quite a lot of people who have affairs may feel terribly guilty for hurting their partner, but they don't feel guilty for the experience of the affair itself. And that distinction is important.
Video examples
Clever Sea Lion...
large number of individual shapes into categories the question that this test raises is does she know that all the letters relate to each other as do all the numbers and to help Rio make a clearer distinction between the two
Video examples
What really matters at...
can become about making life more wonderful, rather than just less horrible. Beneficence. Here, this gets right at the distinction between a disease-centered and a patient- or human-centered model of care,
Video examples
Learning from dirty jobs...
when all we do is talk about somebody else's responsibility as though it's our own, and vice versa. Anyhow, a whole lot of things. I could talk at length about the many little distinctions we made
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Fred Hampton
American Activist
I am the people, I'm not the pig. You got to make a distinction. And the people are going to have to attack the pigs. The people are going to have to stand up against the pigs. That's what the Panthers is doing, that's what the Panthers are doing all over the world.
Quote examples
Gerard De Nerval
French Novelist
It has been rightly said that nothing is unimportant, nothing powerless in the universe; a single atom can dissolve everything, and save everything! What terror! There lies the eternal distinction between good and evil.
Quote examples
Gaby Hoffmann
American Actress
I think I happened to work with sort of a bunch of slightly difficult male directors when I was a kid. I've since worked with lots of male directors that I love, so I no longer see the distinction gender-wise.
Quote examples
Francois Hollande
French Statesman
I am for a clear distinction between public and private life. I believe private matters should be regulated in private and I have asked those close to me to respect this.
Quote examples
James Baldwin
American Novelist
The primary distinction of the artist is that he must actively cultivate that state which most men, necessarily, must avoid; the state of being alone.
Quote examples
Isaac Newton
English Mathematician
To me there has never been a higher source of earthly honor or distinction than that connected with advances in science.
Quote examples
Holly Branson
Dad was always working in the living room. There was no distinction between work and life - it was the same thing.
Quote examples
Ira Sachs
American Director
What's interesting to me is the distinction between my old life and my present life.
Quote examples
Robert Fulghum
American Author
I've always made a clear distinction between making a life and making a living.
Quote examples
K. D. Lang
Canadian Musician
There needn't be a distinction between your life and your music.
Quote examples
Fred Hampton
American Activist
I am the people, I'm not the pig. You got to make a distinction. And the people are going to have to attack the pigs. The people are going to have to stand up against the pigs. That's what the Panthers is doing, that's what the Panthers are doing all over the world.
Quote examples
Gerard De Nerval
French Novelist
It has been rightly said that nothing is unimportant, nothing powerless in the universe; a single atom can dissolve everything, and save everything! What terror! There lies the eternal distinction between good and evil.
Quote examples
Gaby Hoffmann
American Actress
I think I happened to work with sort of a bunch of slightly difficult male directors when I was a kid. I've since worked with lots of male directors that I love, so I no longer see the distinction gender-wise.
Quote examples
Francois Hollande
French Statesman
I am for a clear distinction between public and private life. I believe private matters should be regulated in private and I have asked those close to me to respect this.
Quote examples
James Baldwin
American Novelist
The primary distinction of the artist is that he must actively cultivate that state which most men, necessarily, must avoid; the state of being alone.
Quote examples
Isaac Newton
English Mathematician
To me there has never been a higher source of earthly honor or distinction than that connected with advances in science.
Quote examples
Holly Branson
Dad was always working in the living room. There was no distinction between work and life - it was the same thing.
Quote examples
Ira Sachs
American Director
What's interesting to me is the distinction between my old life and my present life.
Quote examples
Robert Fulghum
American Author
I've always made a clear distinction between making a life and making a living.
Quote examples
K. D. Lang
Canadian Musician
There needn't be a distinction between your life and your music.
Example 1 of 10
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