distinction

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: B1 — Intermediate

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun a discrimination between things as different and distinct
  2. noun high status importance owing to marked superiority
  3. noun a distinguishing quality

Etymology

From Middle English distinccioun, from Old French distinction (attested from the 12th century), borrowed from Latin distinctiōnem, action noun of distinguō (“separate, distinguish”). Attested in English from the late 14th century.

In classic literature

Synonyms

differentiation

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