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1. A discrimination between things as different and distinct
   "it is necessary to make a distinction between love and infatuation";
   - differentiation
    
2. High status importance owing to marked superiority
   "a scholar of great distinction";
   - eminence, preeminence, note
    
3. A distinguishing quality
   "it has the distinction of being the cheapest restaurant in town"
    
4. A distinguishing difference
   "he learned the distinction between gold and lead"

Derived forms: distinctions

Type of: difference, discrimination, high status, quality, secernment

Encyclopedia: Distinction