Basic Details
Word: Distinction
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: A clear difference between two things; also special excellence, as when a student passes an exam with distinction.
Synonyms: difference, contrast, excellence, honour
Antonyms: similarity, sameness
How to Spell Distinction
Syllables: dis - tinc - tion
Tricky part: The sound before tion is spelt with a c (tinc), not k or nothing at all, so distintion and distinktion are both wrong. The first three vowels are all i.
Watch out for: distintion, distinktion, distiction, destinction
Memory tip: Spell distinct first and simply add ion: distinct + ion. The c and t of distinct both stay where they are.
Usage Examples
Example 1: Grandpa still keeps the certificate from when he passed his engineering exams with distinction.
Example 2: Reena earned the distinction of being the first girl from her village to fly a plane.
Example 3: She has served the hospital with distinction for twenty years.
Fun Fact
In many Indian school boards and universities, a distinction traditionally means scoring 75 percent or more in a subject or an exam.
Practise the CREST Way
Spell-o-Spell
Only one word in the list is misspelt. Choose the meaning of the misspelt word.
1. distintion 2. superstition 3. composition 4. ambition
a) a clear difference, or special excellence
b) a strong wish to succeed in life
c) a belief in luck or magic with no basis in reason
d) a piece of writing or music someone has created
Show answer
a) a clear difference, or special excellence. Distintion is the misspelt one; distinction keeps the c of distinct before tion.
Word Cookie
Fill in the missing letters:
d_st_nct_on
a) e, i, i
b) i, i, e
c) i, i, i
d) i, e, i
Show answer
c) i, i, i. All three blanks take i, d-i-st-i-nct-i-on; only the o of ion breaks the pattern.
Word Connection
Choose the word closest in meaning to distinction as used in the sentence:
Many people make no distinction between a cold and the flu, though different viruses cause them.
a) decision
b) difference
c) confusion
d) similarity
Show answer
b) difference. To make a distinction is to notice a difference; similarity is the opposite idea.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Passing 'with distinction' tells you that the student ____.
a) did exceptionally well
b) missed the exam
c) failed one paper
d) just scraped through
Show answer
a) did exceptionally well
2. Which verb belongs to the same word family as distinction?
a) destroy
b) distinguish
c) distract
d) distil
Show answer
b) distinguish
