distinction

noun

1. 1

   a distinguishing difference

   he learned the distinction between gold and lead

2. 2

   a distinguishing quality

   it has the distinction of being the cheapest restaurant in town

3. 3

   a discrimination between things as different and distinct

   it is necessary to make a distinction between love and infatuation

4. 4

   high status importance owing to marked superiority

   a scholar of great eminence