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distinzione

distinction

noun dee-steen-TSYOH-neh Less Common
Descriptions & Qualities Quality

Origin: From Latin distinctio, from distinguere (to distinguish).

Also means

difference

Usage Note

Distinzione can mean both the act of distinguishing (fare una distinzione tra A e B) and a mark of elegance or refinement (una persona di grande distinzione). The second sense — personal distinction or class — is a false-friend trap for English speakers who expect only the intellectual meaning. The verb is distinguere, past participle distinto (also an adjective meaning distinguished or refined).

Examples

"Bisogna fare una distinzione tra i due casi."

Natural Translation

One must draw a distinction between the two cases.

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