Difference
Difference noun - The quality or state of being different.
Usage example: there's a great difference between claiming to care about the environment and living like you really do
Distinction is a synonym for difference in dissimilarity topic. In some cases you can use "Distinction" instead a noun "Difference", when it comes to topics like same. popular alternative
Distinction
Distinction noun - The quality or state of being different.
Usage example: the distinction between the two photographic prints escapes me
Difference is a synonym for distinction in same topic. You can use "Difference" instead a noun "Distinction", if it concerns topics such as differentiation. popular alternative
Mutual synonyms
Related pairs
- peculiarity and difference
- peculiarity and distinction
- discrimination and difference
- discrimination and distinction
- division and difference
- division and distinction
- divergence and difference
- divergence and distinction
- variance and difference
- variance and distinction
- contrast and difference
- contrast and distinction
- separation and difference
- separation and distinction
How words are described
| clear | clear difference | clear distinction |
| notable | notable difference | notable distinction |
| similar | similar difference | similar distinction |
| true | true difference | true distinction |
| Other adjectives: obvious, actual, real, great, little, subtle, potential, main, interesting, noticeable, important, practical, key, early, meaningful, major, chief, minor, primary, greatest, visual, cultural. | ||
Cite this Source
Distinction and Difference. (2016). Retrieved 2026, August 15, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/difference/distinction
Difference & Distinction. N.p., 2016. Web. 15 Aug. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/difference/distinction>.
Distinction or Difference. 2016. Accessed August 15, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/difference/distinction.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "difference" and "distinction" have occurred on timeline