Distinction

How to spell distinction

11 letters · 3 syllables

How to pronounce distinction

Say the part in capitals loudest.

What does distinction mean?

1. nounA clear difference or contrast between two or more things.
2. nounSpecial recognition or honour awarded for outstanding quality or achievement.

Distinction in a sentence

• The report draws a sharp distinction between profit and revenue.

• She passed her final exams with distinction.

• There is an important distinction between renting and owning a home.

• The chef earned a distinction for his innovative menu.

Where does distinction come from?

Language of origin: Latin

This word descends from the Latin distinctio, meaning 'a separating' or 'a marking off', which was formed from the verb distinguere, 'to separate' or 'to mark by points'. That verb breaks down into the prefix dis-, meaning 'apart', and stinguere, which carried the old sense of 'to prick' or 'to mark with a point', so the original image is of pricking dots to keep things apart. English took the word through Old French distinction in the 1300s, at first meaning the act of telling one thing from another. From there it broadened to cover the quality that sets something apart, including the modern academic sense of an honour awarded for excellent work. The same stinguere root also gives us 'distinguish', 'extinguish', and 'instinct', which is a useful way to remember that the 'ct' cluster comes from stinct, not from a softer 'sh' or 'sn' sound.

How the word is built

• di- (apart)
• sting/stinct (from stinguere: to prick, mark off)
• -ion (noun suffix)