Distinction1. (n.) A marking off by visible signs; a designation of honor.
2. (n.) The act of distinguishing or denoting the differences between objects, or the qualities by which one is known from others; exercise of discernment; discrimination.
3. (n.) That which distinguishes one thing from another; distinguishing quality; sharply defined difference; as, the distinction between real and apparent good.
4. (n.) Estimation of difference; regard to differences or distinguishing circumstance.
5. (n.) Conspicuous station; eminence; superiority; honorable estimation; as, a man of distinction.
Thesaurus Entries
Atticism, accolade, account, alteration, analysis, anatomization, ancestry, appropriateness, aristocracy, aristocraticalness, atomization, award, badge, bays, birth, blood, blue blood, celebrity, change, characterization, chasteness, chastity, clarity, classicalism, classicism, clearness, comeliness, consequence, conspicuousness, contradistinction, contrariety, contrast, correctness, credit, decoration, definition, delicacy, delicate distinction, demarcation, departure, description, desynonymization, deviation, difference, differencing, differentia, differential, differentiation, dignity, directness, disaccord, disaccordance, disagreement, disconformity, discongruity, discordance, discrepancy, discreteness, discrimination, disequalization, disjunction, disparity, dissemblance, dissent, dissimilarity, dissimilitude, dissonance, distinctiveness, distinctness, distinguishment, divergence, divergency, diversification, diversity, dividing line, division, ease, elegance, elegancy, elevation, eminence, esteem, exaltation, excellence, fame, far cry, felicitousness, felicity, fine point, finish, fittingness, flow, flowing periods, fluency, genteelness, gentility, glory, good taste, grace, gracefulness, gracility, grandeur, great honor, greatness, hairline, hairsplitting, heroism, heterogeneity, high mightiness, honor, honorable descent, illustriousness, importance, inaccordance, incompatibility, incongruity, inconsistency, inconsonance, individualization, individuation, inequality, inharmoniousness, inharmony, irreconcilability, kudos, laurels, limpidity, loftiness, lucidity, magnanimity, majesty, margin, mark, memorability, merit, microscopic distinction, mixture, modification, narrow margin, naturalness, neatness, nice distinction, nicety, nobility, noble birth, nobleness, nonconformity, notability, note, noteworthiness, nuance, odds, opposition, ornament, otherness, outstandingness, particle of difference, particularization, pellucidity, personalization, perspicuity, plainness, point of difference, polish, preeminence, prestige, prominence, propriety, purity, quality, rank, refinement, remarkableness, renown, reputation, repute, restraint, royalty, salience, seemliness, segregation, separateness, separation, severalization, severance, shade of difference, significance, simplicity, smoothness, specialization, straightforwardness, sublimity, subtle distinction, subtlety, supereminence, superiority, taste, tastefulness, terseness, trichoschistism, unaffectedness, unconformity, uniqueness, unlikeness, unorthodoxy, value, variance, variation, variegation, variety, wide margin, worth