Dictionary

distinct en · ADJ

Pronunciation

• /dɪˈstɪŋkt/
• (US) audio

Etymology

From Middle English distincte, past participle of distincten (“to distinguish, discern”), from Old French destincter, from Latin distinctus, past participle of distinguere (“to distinguish”); see distinguish.

Meanings

1. Capable of being perceived very clearly.
   • The single-imaging optic of the mammalian eye offers some distinct visual advantages. Such lenses can take in photons from a wide range of angles, increasing light sensitivity. They also have high spatial resolution, resolving incoming images in minute detail. 2013 July-August, Fenella Saunders, “Tiny Lenses See the Big Picture”, in American Scientist:
   • Her voice was distinct despite the heavy traffic.
2. Different from one another (with the preferable adposition being "from").
   • Horses are distinct from zebras.
   • “Yes, there are two distinct sets of footprints, both wearing rubber shoes—one I think ordinary plimsolls, the other goloshes,” replied the sergeant. 1928, Lawrence R. Bourne, chapter 13, in Well Tackled!:
3. Noticeably different from others; distinctive.
   • Olga's voice is quite distinct because of her accent.
4. Separate in place; not conjunct or united; with from.
   • The intention was that the two armies which marched out together should afterward be distinct. 1702–1704, Edward [Hyde, 1st] Earl of Clarendon, (please specify |book=I to XVI), in The History of the Rebellion and Civil Wars in England, Begun in the Year 1641. […], Oxford, Oxfordshire: Printed at the [Sheldonian] Theater:
5. (obsolete) Distinguished; having the difference marked; separated by a visible sign; marked out; specified.
   • Wherever thus created — for no place / Is yet distinct by name. 1667, John Milton, “Book VII”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC:
6. (obsolete) Marked; variegated.
   • The which [place] was dight / With divers flowres distinct with rare delight. 1596, Edmund Spenser, “Book VI, Canto III”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC, stanza 23:

Forms

Antonyms

confusing (antonym(s) of) · indistinguishable (antonym(s) of “different from one another”) · same (antonym(s) of “different from one another”) · opaque · indistinct

Deriveds

ultradistinct · distinctness · distinctual · undistinct · distinctor · nondistinct · distinctify · contradistinct · distinctly

Hypernyms

clear

Relateds

extinct · distinguished · distinctive · distinguishness · distinction · distinguish · distinguishable · definite

Synonyms

individual (separate in place) · obvious · sharp · characteristic (noticeably different) · acute · distinctive (noticeably different) · noncontinuous (separate in place) · clear (capable of being perceived very clearly) · discrete (separate in place) · separate (different from one another) · vivid · prominent (noticeably different) · keen · patterned (marked) · distinct · different (different from one another) · specified (distinguished) · separate (separate in place) · several (different from one another)

Translations (99)

da distinkt (different from one another) · ps جلا (different from one another) · eu garbi (very clear) · ru осо́бенный (noticeably different) · cmn 分明 (different from one another) · es distinto (different from one another) · grc τρανής (very clear) · cmn 清晰 (very clear) · ru разли́чный (different from one another) · cmn 不同的 (different from one another) · he מֻבְחָן (different from one another) · da distinkt (noticeably different) · da tydelig adskilt (noticeably different) · hi भिन्न (different from one another) · la nobilis (very clear) · ja 明白な (very clear) · ro distinct (noticeably different) · es distinto (noticeably different) · eu bestelako (different from one another) · ps بېل (different from one another) · nn distinkt (very clear) · et erinev (different from one another) · da distinkt (very clear) · ga ar leith (different from one another) · ru я́сный (very clear) · gl distinto (very clear) · nb distinkt (different from one another) · id khas (noticeably different) · ba башҡа (different from one another) · sv tydlig (very clear) · grc σαφής (very clear) · cmn 獨特 /独特 (noticeably different) · la distīnctus (different from one another) · quc jalajoj (different from one another) · hi विशिष्ट (noticeably different) · la distīnctus (very clear) · fi erottuva (very clear) · ja 異なる (different from one another) · ru отли́чный (different from one another) · nb distinkt (very clear) · pt distinto (different from one another) · fr intelligible (very clear) · mi mataaho (very clear) · fi kuuluva (very clear) · cmn 截然不同的 (noticeably different) · sv distinkt (noticeably different) · ca distint (different from one another) · fr distinct (different from one another) · zlw-ocs zřětedlný (very clear) · mwl çtinto (different from one another) · ca distint (noticeably different) · ru отде́льный (different from one another) · uk особли́вий (noticeably different) · it diverso (different from one another) · bg отделен (different from one another) · da forskellig (different from one another) · ca distint (very clear) · cmn 明顯 /明显 (very clear) · bn বিশেষ (noticeably different) · ga leithleach (different from one another) · cs zřetelný (very clear) · uk окре́мий (different from one another) · ru чёткий (very clear) · ro distinct (very clear) · et erisugune (noticeably different) · uk особли́вий (different from one another) · de deutlich (very clear) · bg особен (noticeably different) · ba башҡа (noticeably different) · nn distinkt (noticeably different) · it chiaro (very clear) · bg отчетлив (very clear) · nn distinkt (different from one another) · hi विशेष (noticeably different) · ru отчётливый (very clear) · ro distinct (different from one another) · bg ясен (very clear) · ru разбо́рчивый (very clear) · it distinto (different from one another) · ja 無二の (noticeably different) · fi erilainen (different from one another) · he נִבְדָּל (different from one another) · uk я́сний (very clear) · fi selkeä (very clear) · uk вира́зний (very clear) · fi erottuva (noticeably different) · nb distinkt (noticeably different) · uk чітки́й (very clear) · fr reconnaissable (noticeably different) · bg различен (different from one another) · eu desberdin (different from one another) · ru осо́бый (noticeably different) · es distinto (very clear) · ba төрлө (different from one another) · fr distinct (very clear) · et eristatav (noticeably different) · pt distinto (very clear) · pt distinto (noticeably different) · da tydelig (very clear)

distinct en · VERB

Pronunciation

• /dɪˈstɪŋkt/
• (US) audio

Etymology

From Middle English distincte, past participle of distincten (“to distinguish, discern”), from Old French destincter, from Latin distinctus, past participle of distinguere (“to distinguish”); see distinguish.

Meanings

1. (obsolete, transitive) To distinguish; to make a distinction.
   • Here every means is made use of to do away all distincting between federal and antifederal and I suspect with no very friendly design to the federal cause. 1788, James McHenry, letter to George Washington, 27 July, in The Documentary History of the First Federal Elections 1788–1790, vol. 2, ed. Gordon DenBoer, University of Wisconsin Press, 1984, page 109

Forms