Collocations for distinction - noun

critical, crucial, important, key, main, major, vital
basic, essential, fundamental
clear, clear-cut, obvious, real, rigid, sharp, strong
fine, subtle
It was a subtle distinction but a very important one.

broad, general
simple
logical
meaningful, significant, useful, valid
arbitrary, artificial, false, meaningless
absolute
Is there always an absolute distinction between right and wrong?

conventional, old, traditional
the conventional distinction between pure and applied science

categorical, conceptual, formal, qualitative, semantic, theoretical
legal, moral
class, cultural, gender, racial, social

draw, make
She draws an important distinction between the different kinds of illness.

note, recognize, see, understand
We can see a sharp distinction between ambition and greed.

blur, collapse, erase (esp. AmE), obscure
The distinction between amateur and professional players is being blurred.

lie
Cultural distinctions lie at the heart of these issues.

exist
No legal distinction existed between cities and other corporations.

without distinction
All groups are entitled to this money without distinction (= without a difference being made between them).

distinction between
distinction of
a society without distinctions of class and privilege

considerable, great
dubious
rare
unique
academic, intellectual, professional, social
Election to the NAE is an indication of professional distinction.

have
He has the dubious distinction of being the world's most famous gangster.

achieve, earn
She achieved distinction in several fields of scholarship.

belong
New York does not have the nation's oldest subway system; that distinction belongs to Boston.

of distinction
She is a historian of great distinction.

with distinction
He served with distinction in the First World War.