Word
distinguishing
Phoneticsdis·tin·guish·ing
US/dɪˈstɪŋɡwɪʃɪŋ/
UK/dɪstˈɪŋɡwɪʃɪŋ/
Definitions
01unique or identifying
adj. describing a feature that makes a person or thing different from others so you can recognize them.
adj. serving to identify or differentiate an entity from others through unique characteristics.
“The detective asked if the thief had any distinguishing marks, like a tattoo or a scar.”
“The most distinguishing feature of the building is its bright blue roof, which makes it visible from several miles away.”
Usage
usually placed before the noun it describes.
Synonyms
02the act of telling apart
n. the act of seeing or naming the difference between two things.
n. the process or act of discriminating between different entities or qualities.
“The distinguishing of different bird species can be very difficult for beginners.”
“The precise distinguishing of these two chemical compounds requires advanced laboratory equipment and significant expertise.”
Formal
Usage
often used in academic or technical contexts regarding classification.
Teaching tip
This noun use is much rarer than the adjective; students should focus on the adjective form first.
Real-World Examples
“The research team overcame this limitation by first distinguishing two types of magnetism that exist in rocks, clay and other materials.” “Is there a way of distinguishing which is which in Spanish?” Word family
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/distinguishing