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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Distinction \Dis*tinc"tion\, noun [L. distinctio: cf. F. distinction.]
1. A marking off by visible signs; separation into parts; division. [Obs.]
The distinction of tragedy into acts was not known. --Dryden.
2. The act of distinguishing or denoting the differences between objects, or the qualities by which one is known from others; exercise of discernment; discrimination.
To take away therefore that error, which confusion breedeth, distinction is requisite. --Hooker.
3. That which distinguishes one thing from another; distinguishing quality; sharply defined difference; as, the distinction between real and apparent good.
The distinction betwixt the animal kingdom and the inferior parts of matter. --Locke.
4. Estimation of difference; regard to differences or distinguishing circumstance.
Maids, women, wives, without distinction, fall. --Dryden.
5. Conspicuous station; eminence; superiority; honorable estimation; as, a man of distinction.
Your country's own means of distinction and defense. --D. Webster.
Syn: Difference; variation, variety; contrast; diversity; contrariety; disagreement; discrimination; preference; superiority; rank; note; eminence.
From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:
distinction
noun
1: a discrimination between things as different and distinct; "it is necessary to make a distinction between love and infatuation" [syn: {differentiation}]
2: high status importance owing to marked superiority; "a scholar of great eminence" [syn: {eminence}, {preeminence}, {note}]
3: a distinguishing quality; "it has the distinction of being the cheapest restaurant in town"
4: a distinguishing difference; "he learned the distinction between gold and lead"
From Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 [moby-thes]:
212 Moby Thesaurus words for "distinction": Atticism, accolade, account, alteration, analysis, anatomization, ancestry, appropriateness, aristocracy, aristocraticalness, atomization, award, badge, bays, birth, blood, blue blood, celebrity, change, characterization, chasteness, chastity, clarity, classicalism, classicism, clearness, comeliness, consequence, conspicuousness, contradistinction, contrariety, contrast, correctness, credit, decoration, definition, delicacy, delicate distinction, demarcation, departure, description, desynonymization, deviation, difference, differencing, differentia, differential, differentiation, dignity, directness, disaccord, disaccordance, disagreement, disconformity, discongruity, discordance, discrepancy, discreteness, discrimination, disequalization, disjunction, disparity, dissemblance, dissent, dissimilarity, dissimilitude, dissonance, distinctiveness, distinctness, distinguishment, divergence, divergency, diversification, diversity, dividing line, division, ease, elegance, elegancy, elevation, eminence, esteem, exaltation, excellence, fame, far cry, felicitousness, felicity, fine point, finish, fittingness, flow, flowing periods, fluency, genteelness, gentility, glory, good taste, grace, gracefulness, gracility, grandeur, great honor, greatness, hairline, hairsplitting, heroism, heterogeneity, high mightiness, honor, honorable descent, illustriousness, importance, inaccordance, incompatibility, incongruity, inconsistency, inconsonance, individualization, individuation, inequality, inharmoniousness, inharmony, irreconcilability, kudos, laurels, limpidity, loftiness, lucidity, magnanimity, majesty, margin, mark, memorability, merit, microscopic distinction, mixture, modification, narrow margin, naturalness, neatness, nice distinction, nicety, nobility, noble birth, nobleness, nonconformity, notability, note, noteworthiness, nuance, odds, opposition, ornament, otherness, outstandingness, particle of difference, particularization, pellucidity, personalization, perspicuity, plainness, point of difference, polish, preeminence, prestige, prominence, propriety, purity, quality, rank, refinement, remarkableness, renown, reputation, repute, restraint, royalty, salience, seemliness, segregation, separateness, separation, severalization, severance, shade of difference, significance, simplicity, smoothness, specialization, straightforwardness, sublimity, subtle distinction, subtlety, supereminence, superiority, taste, tastefulness, terseness, trichoschistism, unaffectedness, unconformity, uniqueness, unlikeness, unorthodoxy, value, variance, variation, variegation, variety, wide margin, worth
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