distinct
Americanadjective
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distinguished as not being the same; not identical; separate (sometimes followed byfrom ).
His private and public lives are distinct.
- Synonyms:
- individual, discrete
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different in nature or quality; dissimilar (sometimes followed byfrom ).
Gold is distinct from iron.
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clear to the senses or intellect; plain; unmistakable.
The ship appeared as a distinct silhouette.
- Synonyms:
- well-defined, sharp, unlike, distinguishable, disparate, different
- Antonyms:
- indistinct
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distinguishing or perceiving clearly.
distinct vision.
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unquestionably exceptional or notable.
a distinct honor.
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Archaic. distinctively decorated or adorned.
adjective
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easily sensed or understood; clear; precise
-
(when postpositive, foll by from) not the same (as); separate (from); distinguished (from)
-
not alike; different
-
sharp; clear
-
recognizable; definite
a distinct improvement
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explicit; unequivocal
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maths logic (of a pair of entities) not identical
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botany (of parts of a plant) not joined together; separate
Usage
What are other ways to say distinct?
The adjective distinct is used to describe things that are clearly distinguished from others. How does distinct compare to synonyms different, various, and diverse? Find out on Thesaurus.com.
Other Word Forms
- distinctly adverb
- distinctness noun
Etymology
Origin of distinct
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin distinctus, “divided off,” past participle of disting(u)ere “to divide off, pick out, distinguish,” from di- di- 2 + sting(u)ere (unrecorded), presumably, “to prick, mark by pricking”; instinct 1, instigate
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“We believe Virgin Galactic has strong long-term prospects, supported by a solid backlog and early-mover advantage, coupled with a distinct experiential offering,” wrote analyst Greg Konrad.
From Barron's • Apr. 6, 2026
Two decades later, in the 1860s, the fort walls came down, paving the way for imperial buildings to come up which gave the city its distinct colonial identity.
From BBC • Apr. 3, 2026
“What our bill is about is individualized price setting, which is distinct from dynamic pricing,” he said.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 1, 2026
Instead, the material forms three repeating types of organic-mineral regions, each with its own distinct composition.
From Science Daily • Mar. 31, 2026
Small rivers cut the city up like pieces of a pie, separating four distinct areas from one another.
From "The Manifestor Prophecy" by Angie Thomas
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.