distinction in WordNet English dictionary

1. a discrimination between things as different and distinct
   "it is necessary to make a distinction between love and infatuation"
   differentiation  distinction 
   
2. a distinguishing difference
   "he learned the distinction between gold and lead"
   distinction 
   
3. a distinguishing quality
   "it has the distinction of being the cheapest restaurant in town"
   distinction 
   
4. high status importance owing to marked superiority
   "a scholar of great eminence"
   eminence  distinction  preeminence  note