Difference vs. Distinction — What's the Difference?
Difference Between Difference and Distinction
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Compare with Definitions
Difference
The quality or condition of being unlike or dissimilar.
Distinction
The act of distinguishing; differentiation
Economists making an ongoing distinction between domestic and foreign markets.
Difference
An instance of disparity or unlikeness
There is a big difference in sound between a clarinet and an oboe.
Distinction
The condition or fact of being dissimilar or distinct; difference
"the crucial distinction between education and indoctrination" (A. Bartlett Giamatti).
Difference
A degree or amount by which things differ
A difference in height of three inches.
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Distinction
A distinguishing factor, attribute, or characteristic
A legal system blind to distinctions of race, gender, and class.
Difference
A noticeable change or effect
Exercise has made a difference in her health.
Distinction
Excellence or eminence, as of performance, character, or reputation
A diplomat of distinction.
Difference
A disagreement or controversy
Let's settle our differences.
Distinction
A special quality or accomplishment conferring uniqueness or honor
Has the distinction of being the tallest in his class.
Difference
Discrimination in taste or choice; distinction
In this case, the law should make no difference between young and old.
Distinction
Recognition of achievement or superiority; honor
Graduated with distinction.
Difference
The amount by which one quantity is greater or less than another.
Distinction
An award or honor given to someone for outstanding achievement
Won many distinctions while in the military.
Difference
The amount that remains after one quantity is subtracted from another.
Distinction
That which distinguishes; a single occurrence of a determining factor or feature, the fact of being divided; separation, discrimination.
Difference
To distinguish or differentiate.
Distinction
The act of distinguishing, discriminating; discrimination.
There is a distinction to be made between resting and slacking.
Difference
(uncountable) The quality of being different.
You need to learn to be more tolerant of difference.
Distinction
Specifically, a feature that causes someone or something to stand out as being better; a mark of honour, rank, eminence or excellence; being distinguished.
She had the distinction of meeting the Queen.
Difference
(countable) A characteristic of something that makes it different from something else.
There are three differences between these two pictures.
Distinction
A marking off by visible signs; separation into parts; division.
The distinction of tragedy into acts was not known.
Difference
(countable) A disagreement or argument.
We have our little differences, but we are firm friends.
Distinction
The act of distinguishing or denoting the differences between objects, or the qualities by which one is known from others; exercise of discernment; discrimination.
To take away therefore that error, which confusion breedeth, distinction is requisite.
Difference
Significant change in or effect on a situation or state.
It just won't make much difference to me.
It just won't make much of a difference to anyone.
Distinction
That which distinguishes one thing from another; distinguishing quality; sharply defined difference; as, the distinction between real and apparent good.
The distinction betwixt the animal kingdom and the inferior parts of matter.
Difference
(countable) The result of a subtraction; sometimes the absolute value of this result.
The difference between 3 and 21 is 18.
Distinction
Estimation of difference; regard to differences or distinguishing circumstance.
Maids, women, wives, without distinction, fall.
Difference
(obsolete) Choice; preference.
Distinction
Conspicuous station; eminence; superiority; honorable estimation; as, a man of distinction.
Your country's own means of distinction and defense.
Difference
(heraldry) An addition to a coat of arms to distinguish two people's bearings which would otherwise be the same. See augmentation and cadency.
Distinction
A discrimination between things as different and distinct;
It is necessary to make a distinction between love and infatuation
Difference
(logic) The quality or attribute which is added to those of the genus to constitute a species; a differentia.
Distinction
High status importance owing to marked superiority;
A scholar of great eminence
Difference
(logic circuits) A Boolean operation which is true when the two input variables are different but is otherwise false; the XOR operation ().
Distinction
A distinguishing quality;
It has the distinction of being the cheapest restaurant in town
Difference
(relational algebra) The set of elements that are in one set but not another ().
Distinction
A distinguishing difference;
He learned the distinction between gold and lead
Difference
To distinguish or differentiate.
Difference
The act of differing; the state or measure of being different or unlike; distinction; dissimilarity; unlikeness; variation; as, a difference of quality in paper; a difference in degrees of heat, or of light; what is the difference between the innocent and the guilty?
Differencies of administration, but the same Lord.
Difference
Disagreement in opinion; dissension; controversy; quarrel; hence, cause of dissension; matter in controversy.
What was the difference? It was a contention in public.
Away therefore went I with the constable, leaving the old warden and the young constable to compose their difference as they could.
Difference
That by which one thing differs from another; that which distinguishes or causes to differ; mark of distinction; characteristic quality; specific attribute.
The marks and differences of sovereignty.
Difference
Choice; preference.
That now he chooseth with vile differenceTo be a beast, and lack intelligence.
Difference
An addition to a coat of arms to distinguish the bearings of two persons, which would otherwise be the same. See Augmentation, and Marks of cadency, under Cadency.
Difference
The quality or attribute which is added to those of the genus to constitute a species; a differentia.
Difference
The quantity by which one quantity differs from another, or the remainder left after subtracting the one from the other.
Difference
To cause to differ; to make different; to mark as different; to distinguish.
Thou mayest difference gods from men.
Kings, in receiving justice and undergoing trial, are not differenced from the meanest subject.
So completely differenced by their separate and individual characters that we at once acknowledge them as distinct persons.
Difference
The quality of being unlike or dissimilar;
There are many differences between jazz and rock
Difference
A variation that deviates from the standard or norm;
The deviation from the mean
Difference
A disagreement or argument about something important;
He had a dispute with his wife
There were irreconcilable differences
The familiar conflict between Republicans and Democrats
Difference
A significant change;
The difference in her is amazing
His support made a real difference
Difference
The number that remains after subtraction; the number that when added to the subtrahend gives the minuend
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