Meaning & use
man of distinction
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Meaning
phrasecountableformal
A man who is highly respected and admired for his achievements, character, or appearance.
Grammar: Countable phrase: a man of distinction, two men of distinction. The plural is 'men of distinction'.
Patterns
- a man of distinction
- men of distinction
The award was given to a man of distinction who had served the community for decades.
He carried himself like a man of distinction, even in casual clothes.
The dinner was attended by several men of distinction in the arts and sciences.
Word forms
| plural | men of distinction |
|---|
Common combinations
- a man of great distinction
- He was a man of great distinction in the field of medicine.
- a man of real distinction
- Her grandfather was a man of real distinction in the community.
- a man of distinction and honor
- The general was described as a man of distinction and honor.
Synonyms and how they differ
- distinguished man
- More common and slightly less formal; it focuses on the man's achievements or appearance.
- gentleman
- Focuses on polite behavior and social class, not necessarily on achievements or public respect.
- notable
- A noun meaning an important or famous person; less specific about character or appearance.
Opposites
Word family
- distinction noun
- The quality of being excellent, important, or different.
- distinguished adjective
- Successful, respected, and admired.
- distinctive adjective
- Easy to recognize because of a special quality.
Commonly confused: man of distinction or man of letters?
man of distinction vs man of letters
This means a male scholar or writer, not simply a respected man.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'man of distinction' correctly?
Choose one answer.
A man of distinction is a respected man known for achievements or character, so public service fits. Being rich alone does not make someone a man of distinction; 'she' does not match 'man'; and fixing a car does not imply distinction.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “man of distinction”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.