distinguished
dih-STIHNG-gwihsht
Distinguished (adjective) means Well-known and respected because of notable achievements. Example: “The ceremony honoured a distinguished scientist for her lifetime of work.”
adjective
1
Well-known and respected because of notable achievements.
"The ceremony honoured a distinguished scientist for her lifetime of work."
"A distinguished professor gave the keynote speech."
"He had a long and distinguished career in law."
2
Having a dignified, impressive appearance or manner.
"The grey-haired man looked distinguished in his dark suit."
"He spoke in a calm, distinguished voice that commanded attention."
"She had a distinguished air about her, even in casual clothes."
How to use distinguished
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishImpressive and respected — the kind of person or career people look up to.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
distinguished career
distinguished guest
distinguished-looking
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like distinguished.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Comparative
- more distinguished
- Superlative
- most distinguished
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The ceremony honoured a _____ scientist for her lifetime of work.
Etymology
The past-participle form of distinguish, used as an adjective from the sense of "having been marked out" for merit.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for distinguished
fished
famished
vanished
polished
punished
finished
banished
cherished
furnished
published
nourished
anguished
See all rhymes for distinguished →
Frequently asked questions
What does “distinguished” mean?
The word “distinguished” means well-known and respected because of notable achievements. In plain terms, impressive and respected — the kind of person or career people look up to.
How do you pronounce “distinguished”?
“Distinguished” is pronounced dih-STIHNG-gwihsht (/dɪˈstɪŋ.ɡwɪʃt/ in IPA).
How do you use “distinguished” in a sentence?
Here is “distinguished” used in a sentence: “A distinguished professor gave the keynote speech.”
What part of speech is “distinguished”?
“Distinguished” is an adjective.
Is “distinguished” a common word?
“Distinguished” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “distinguished” have?
“Distinguished” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: well-known and respected because of notable achievements.
What is the difference between distinguished and distinct?
Distinguished means well-known and respected for notable achievements, or having a dignified appearance. Distinct means clearly separate, different, or easy to notice. They are not interchangeable: a distinguished professor is respected, while a distinct smell is unmistakable.
What is the difference between distinguished and famous?
Famous simply means widely known, for any reason, good or bad. Distinguished means known and respected specifically because of notable achievements. A person can be famous without being distinguished, but distinguished carries a sense of earned respect and dignity.
What is the difference between distinguished and eminent?
Both describe people held in high regard and are close in meaning. Eminent stresses being outstanding and prominent in a field, while distinguished emphasises being well respected for achievements and can also describe a dignified, impressive appearance or manner.
Can distinguished describe someone's appearance?
Yes. Besides meaning well-known and respected, distinguished can describe a dignified, impressive appearance or manner, as in "a distinguished-looking gentleman." Here it refers to how someone carries themselves rather than to their reputation.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include distinguished:
