Contents

English

Etymology

From French distinction, from Latin distinctionem, from distinguere ‘distinguish’.

Pronunciation

Noun

Singular distinction

Plural distinctions

distinction (plural distinctions)

  1. That which distinguishes; a single occurrence of a determining factor.
  2. The state of being distinguishable.
    • 1921, Bertrand Russell, “Lecture II”, in The Analysis of Mind:
      In spite of these qualifications, the broad distinction between instinct and habit is undeniable. To take extreme cases, every animal at birth can take food by instinct, before it has had opportunity to learn; on the other hand, no one can ride a bicycle by instinct, though, after learning, the necessary movements become just as automatic as if they were instinctive.
  3. A feature that causes someone or something to stand out as being better; being distinguished.

Derived terms

Related terms

French

Etymology

From Latin distinctionem, from distinguere (“‘distinguish’”).

Pronunciation

Noun

distinction f. (plural distinctions)

  1. distinction (difference, honour)

 

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