Meaning & use
distinguishing marks
Last updated
Meaning
nounpluralformal
Visible features on a person, animal or object, such as scars, tattoos or birthmarks, that help identify them.
Grammar: Plural: distinguishing marks help police identify someone.
Patterns
- any distinguishing marks
The form asked for height, eye color and any distinguishing marks.
Her only distinguishing marks are a small scar and a tattoo.
The stolen bike had no distinguishing marks.
Common combinations
- no distinguishing marks
- The passport photo shows no distinguishing marks.
- list distinguishing marks
- Please list any distinguishing marks.
- identifying and distinguishing marks
- The report noted his identifying and distinguishing marks.
- describe distinguishing marks
- Witnesses could not describe distinguishing marks.
- visible distinguishing marks
- He had no visible distinguishing marks.
Synonyms and how they differ
- identifying features
- Wider and can include behavior or voice.
- birthmarks
- Only marks present from birth, not tattoos or scars.
- characteristics
- General traits, not necessarily visible.
- hallmarks
- Typical features of a style, not marks on a body.
Word family
- distinguish verb
- to tell apart
- distinguishing adjective
- setting apart
- distinctive adjective
- easily recognized
- mark noun
- a visible spot or sign
Commonly confused: distinguishing marks or distinctive features?
distinguishing marks vs distinctive features
Distinctive features describe qualities that stand out; distinguishing marks are specific physical marks.
Practice
Which is the best example of a distinguishing mark?
Choose one answer.
A scar is a lasting body feature that identifies someone. Clothing and names can change easily or are shared.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “distinguishing marks”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.