Distinctness

dis·tinct  (d-stngkt)

adj.

1. Readily distinguishable from all others; discrete: on two distinct occasions.

2. Easily perceived by the senses or intellect; clear: a distinct flavor.

3. Clearly defined; unquestionable: at a distinct disadvantage.

4. Very likely; probable: There is a distinct possibility that she won't come.

5. Notable: a distinct honor and high privilege.

---

[Middle English, past participle of distincten, to distinguish, discern, from Old French destincter, from Latin distnctus, past participle of distinguere, to distinguish; see distinguish.]

---

dis·tinctly adv.

dis·tinctness n.

Synonyms: distinct, discrete, separate, several
These adjectives mean distinguished from others in nature or qualities: 12 distinct colors; a company with six discrete divisions; a problem consisting of two separate issues; performed several steps of the process. See Also Synonyms at apparent.

Usage Note: A thing is distinct if it is sharply distinguished from other things; a property or attribute is distinctive if it enables us to distinguish one thing from another. The warbler is not a distinct species means that the warbler is not a clearly defined type of bird. The pine warbler has a distinctive song means that the pine warbler's song enables us to distinguish it from all other birds, including other warblers.

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	distinctness - the quality of being sharp and clear sharpness uncloudedness, clarity, clearness - the quality of clear water; "when she awoke the clarity was back in her eyes" definition - clarity of outline; "exercise had given his muscles superior definition" discernability, legibility - distinctness that makes perception easy focus - maximum clarity or distinctness of an image rendered by an optical system; "in focus"; "out of focus" blurriness, fuzziness, indistinctness, fogginess, softness - the quality of being indistinct and without sharp outlines
	2.	distinctness - the state of being several and distinct discreteness, separateness, severalty separation - the state of lacking unity
	3.	distinctness - the quality of being not alike; being distinct or different from that otherwise experienced or known otherness, separateness difference - the quality of being unlike or dissimilar; "there are many differences between jazz and rock"