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Distinguished vs Distinction - What's the difference?

distinguished | distinction |

As a adjective distinguished

is celebrated, well-known or eminent because of past achievements; prestigious.

As a verb distinguished

is (distinguish).

As a noun distinction is

that which distinguishes; a single occurrence of a determining factor or feature, the fact of being divided; separation, discrimination.

distinguished

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • celebrated, well-known or eminent because of past achievements; prestigious
  • The lecture was attended by many distinguished mathematicians.
  • Having a dignified appearance or demeanor
  • Her father was a distinguished gentleman, albeit a poor one.
  • (mathematics) Specified, noted.
  • Let ''X'' be a topological space with a distinguished point ''p''.

    Verb

    (head)
  • (distinguish)
  • distinction

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • That which distinguishes; a single occurrence of a determining factor or feature, the fact of being divided; separation, discrimination.
  • The act of distinguishing, discriminating; discrimination.
  • * {{quote-book, year=1921, title=
  • , author=(Bertrand Russell), chapter=Lecture II , passage=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.}}
  • * {{quote-book, year=1911, title=
  • , chapter=Evidence , passage=But, for practical purposes, it is possible to draw a distinction between a statement of facts observed and an expression of opinion as to the inference to be drawn from these facts, and the rule telling witnesses to state facts and not express opinions is of great value in keeping their statements out of the region of argument and conjecture.}}
  • Specifically, a feature that causes someone or something to stand out as being better; a mark of honour, rank, eminence or excellence; being distinguished.
  • * {{quote-book, year=1922, author=(Ben Travers), title=(A Cuckoo in the Nest)
  • , chapter=2 citation , passage=Mother
  • * 2013 , Daniel Taylor, Steven Gerrard goal against Poland ensures England will go to World Cup'' (in ''The Guardian , 15 October 2013)[http://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/oct/15/england-poland-world-cup-qualifier]
  • Leighton Baines, playing with distinction again, sent over a left-wing cross with pace and accuracy. Welbeck, prominently involved all night, could not reach it but Rooney was directly behind him, flashing his header past Szczesny.

    Derived terms

    * contradistinction * distinction without a difference

    Antonyms

    * (that which distinguishes) confusion