Distinction (Noun)
Meaning 1
A discrimination between things as different and distinct on the basis of their characteristics or attributes; "it is necessary to make a distinction between love and infatuation".
Classification
Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents.
Examples
- A key distinction between fiction and non-fiction books lies in their narrative style and purpose.
- It is essential to make a distinction between a recession and a depression when analyzing economic downturns.
- There's a clear distinction between a hypothesis and a theory in the scientific research process.
- Many people struggle to make a distinction between right and wrong in morally ambiguous situations.
- Understanding the distinction between a registered trademark and a copyright can be crucial for businesses and artists.
Synonyms
Hypernyms
Hyponyms
Related Words
Meaning 2
High status importance owing to marked superiority; "a scholar of great eminence".
Classification
Nouns denoting natural processes.
Examples
- Her groundbreaking research earned a distinction as one of the most influential scientists of her time, commanding international respect and admiration.
- The chef's extraordinary culinary skills brought him a distinction as a master in his field, and people flocked to his restaurant.
- With a doctorate in literature from a prestigious university, she gained a distinction as a leading authority on 19th-century American fiction.
- Captain Jones's distinction as a fearless and brilliant naval officer earned him the highest honors and recognition in his country's military.
- His award-winning novels secured a distinction for him as a prominent figure in contemporary literature, known for his unique narrative voice.
Synonyms
Hypernyms
Hyponyms
Meaning 3
An honor awarded to someone in recognition of achievement or superiority; "she graduated with the highest distinction".
Classification
Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents.
Examples
- The renowned professor was granted a distinction in her field for her groundbreaking research contributions, which revolutionized medical science.
- He graduated with the highest distinction from the prestigious university for his exceptional academic performance in computer engineering.
- The university awarded her a distinction in arts for her remarkable contribution to contemporary theater.
- She received a distinction in commerce for her outstanding financial analysis skills and business acumen.
- The late scientist's work earned him a posthumous distinction for his pioneering discoveries in quantum mechanics, recognized globally by the physics community.
Hypernyms
Meaning 4
A distinguishing difference between similar things or people; "he learned the distinction between gold and lead".
Classification
Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects.
Examples
- Her attention to detail made her skilled in recognizing the distinction between authentic and counterfeit artwork.
- The company's focus on sustainability has become a key distinction between them and their competitors.
- The artist's use of bold colors creates a striking distinction between the subject and the background.
- Linguists study the distinction between language and dialect to better understand language evolution.
- The teacher helped her students understand the distinction between a hypothesis and a theory in scientific research.