distinct meaning and examples

2025-09-05

Meaning

The adjective distinct means clearly different, separate, or easily noticeable. It emphasizes uniqueness, clarity, or being easily distinguished from others.

Grammar and Usage

  • Part of speech: Adjective

  • Usage patterns:

    • distinct from + noun: clearly different from something else
    • a distinct possibility/chance: something that is very likely
    • distinct advantage/feature: a clear or definite quality

Common Phrases

  • distinct possibility – a clear or definite chance of happening
  • distinct advantage – a clear benefit
  • distinct impression – a strong, noticeable feeling or idea
  • quite distinct from – very different from

Collocations

  • distinct smell/sound/voice
  • distinct difference
  • distinct category
  • distinct role
  • distinct group

Examples

  1. The twins are identical, but their personalities are quite distinct.
  2. There is a distinct smell of smoke in the room.
  3. She had the distinct impression that he was hiding something.
  4. This policy has a distinct advantage over the old one.
  5. English and Japanese are distinct languages with different grammar systems.
  6. There is a distinct possibility that it will rain tomorrow.
  7. The sound of the violin was distinct even among the other instruments.
  • clear
  • noticeable
  • separate
  • unique
  • different
  • evident