distinction

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Etymology 1.2 Pronunciation 1.3 Noun 1.3.1 Derived terms 1.3.2 Related terms 1.3.3 Translations 2 French 2.1 Etymology 2.2 Pronunciation 2.3 Noun

[edit] English

[edit] Etymology

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

[edit] Pronunciation

• IPA: /dɪˈstɪŋkʃən/
•  Audio (US)^{help, file}

[edit] Noun

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.

[edit] Derived terms

• contradistinction
• a distinction without a difference

[edit] Related terms

• distinct
• distinguish
• distinguished
• distinguishable
• distinguishness

[edit] Translations

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[edit] French

[edit] Etymology

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

[edit] Pronunciation

• IPA: /dis.tɛ̃k.sjɔ̃/ X-SAMPA: /dis.tE~k.sjO~/
•  audio^{help, file}
• Rhymes: -ɔ̃
• Homophones: distinctions

[edit] Noun

distinction f. (plural distinctions)

1. distinction (difference, honour)