WordWeb Online

1. A discrimination between things as different and distinct on the basis of their characteristics or attributes
   "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 difference between similar things or people
   "he learned the distinction between gold and lead"
    
4. An honour awarded to someone in recognition of achievement or superiority
   "she graduated with the highest distinction"

Derived forms: distinctions

Type of: accolade, award, difference, discrimination, high status, honor [US], honour [Brit, Cdn], laurels, secernment

Encyclopedia: Distinction