What does distinction mean?
Definitions for distinction
dɪˈstɪŋk ʃəndis·tinc·tion
Here are all the possible meanings and translations of the word distinction.
Princeton's WordNet
differentiation, distinction(noun)
a discrimination between things as different and distinct
"it is necessary to make a distinction between love and infatuation"
eminence, distinction, preeminence, note(noun)
high status importance owing to marked superiority
"a scholar of great eminence"
distinction(noun)
a distinguishing quality
"it has the distinction of being the cheapest restaurant in town"
distinction(noun)
a distinguishing difference
"he learned the distinction between gold and lead"
Wiktionary
distinction(Noun)
That which distinguishes; a single occurrence of a determining factor or feature, the fact of being divided; separation, discrimination.
Etymology: From (12th century) distinction, from accusative distinctionem, action noun of distinguo. Used in English from the late 14th century.
distinction(Noun)
The act of distinguishing, discriminating; discrimination
Etymology: From (12th century) distinction, from accusative distinctionem, action noun of distinguo. Used in English from the late 14th century.
distinction(Noun)
specifically, a feature that that causes someone or something to stand out as being better; a mark of honour, rank, eminence or excellence; being distinguished.
Etymology: From (12th century) distinction, from accusative distinctionem, action noun of distinguo. Used in English from the late 14th century.
Webster Dictionary
Distinction(noun)
a marking off by visible signs; separation into parts; division
Distinction(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
Distinction(noun)
that which distinguishes one thing from another; distinguishing quality; sharply defined difference; as, the distinction between real and apparent good
Distinction(noun)
estimation of difference; regard to differences or distinguishing circumstance
Distinction(noun)
conspicuous station; eminence; superiority; honorable estimation; as, a man of distinction
Freebase
Distinction
Distinction is a principle under international humanitarian law governing the legal use of force in an armed conflict, whereby belligerents must distinguish between combatants and civilians. Distinction and proportionality are important factors in assessing military necessity in that the harm caused to civilians or civilian property must be proportional and not excessive in relation to the concrete and direct military advantage anticipated by an attack on a military objective.
Chambers 20th Century Dictionary
Distinction
dis-tingk′shun, n. separation or division: that which distinguishes or gives distinction: difference: eminence: characteristic dignity and elegance of style: honourable treatment.
Dictionary of Nautical Terms
distinction
Flags of distinction, badges, honourable note of superiority.
British National Corpus
Spoken Corpus Frequency
Rank popularity for the word 'distinction' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #2428
Nouns Frequency
Rank popularity for the word 'distinction' in Nouns Frequency: #939
Numerology
Chaldean Numerology
The numerical value of distinction in Chaldean Numerology is: 2
Pythagorean Numerology
The numerical value of distinction in Pythagorean Numerology is: 1
Examples of distinction in a Sentence
The distinction's pretty clear. I know Stephen Moore.Moore. I know Stephen Moore.Moore philosophy, I know Stephen Moore.Moore economic positions, I know Stephen Moore.Moore credentials, I know Stephen Moore.Moore heart, and I think Stephen Moore.Moore'd be a good addition to the Fed. The issues that have been raised about Stephen Moore.Moore, none of them disqualify Stephen Moore.Moore.
What I must do is all that concerns me. This rule, equally arduous in actual and intellectual life, may serve for the whole distinction between greatness and meanness. It is harder because you will always find those who think they know what is your duty better than you know it.
Now he has departed from this strange world a little ahead of me. That means nothing. People like us, who believe in physics, know that the distinction between past, present, and future is only a stubbornly persistent illusion.
Knowledge is destroyed by associating with the base; with equals equality is gained, and with the distinguished, distinction.
President Obama was brought up in an atmosphere in which he was taught to be a critic of America, that is a distinction with prior American presidents.
Popularity rank by frequency of use
Translations for distinction
From our Multilingual Translation Dictionary
- отли́чие, разлика, разли́чиеBulgarian
- distincióCatalan, Valencian
- vyznamenání, rozdílCzech
- Unterschied, AuszeichnungGerman
- διάκρισηGreek
- distingoEsperanto
- ero, kunniaFinnish
- distinction, différenceFrench
- 区別, 違いJapanese
- distinctionLatin
- distinksjon, forskjellNorwegian
- różnica, wyróżnienie, odznaczeniePolish
- distinçãoPortuguese
- diferență, distingere, distingibilitate, deosebire, distincțieRomanian
- ра́зница, разграниче́ние, отли́чие, разли́чиеRussian
- skillnad, distinktionSwedish
- 分別Chinese
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"distinction." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2021. Web. 9 Mar. 2021. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/distinction>.