Contradistinguish

C2 16+

Pronunciation: /ˌkɑntrəˈdɪstɪŋɡwɪʃ/

Definitions of contradistinguish

noun a contrasting distinction or difference

Example Sentences

A1 I can contradistinguish between a cat and a dog.

A2 She struggled to contradistinguish the different types of mushrooms.

B1 It is important to be able to contradistinguish between real and fake news.

B2 The detective was able to contradistinguish the suspect from the innocent bystanders.

C1 His ability to contradistinguish subtle differences in artwork is truly remarkable.

C2 The expert was able to contradistinguish the original painting from the forgery with ease.

verb to distinguish by contrasting qualities

Example Sentences

A1 I can contradistinguish between a cat and a dog.

A2 She struggles to contradistinguish between right and wrong.

B1 It is important to be able to contradistinguish between fact and opinion.

B2 The detective was able to contradistinguish the real culprit from the false suspect.

C1 His keen eye for detail allowed him to easily contradistinguish the counterfeit bills from the real ones.

C2 The expert was able to contradistinguish the various species of birds based on their unique calls.

Examples of contradistinguish in a Sentence

formal It is important to contradistinguish between the two theories in order to properly analyze their differences.

informal Can you help me contradistinguish between these two options?

slang I can't really contradistinguish between these two brands of sneakers, they both look the same to me.

figurative The artist used contrasting colors to contradistinguish the foreground from the background in the painting.

Grammatical Forms of contradistinguish

past tense

contradistinguished

plural

contradistinguish

comparative

more contradistinguished

superlative

most contradistinguished

present tense

contradistinguishes

future tense

will contradistinguish

perfect tense

has contradistinguished

continuous tense

is contradistinguishing

singular

contradistinguishes

positive degree

contradistinguish

infinitive

to contradistinguish

gerund

contradistinguishing

participle

contradistinguished

Origin and Evolution of contradistinguish

First Known Use: 1601 year
Language of Origin: Latin
Story behind the word: The word 'contradistinguish' originated from the Latin word 'contra-' meaning against or opposite, and 'distinguere' meaning to distinguish.
Evolution of the word: Originally used to describe the act of distinguishing or differentiating by contrasting or opposing characteristics, the word 'contradistinguish' has evolved to also imply a more intense or deliberate form of differentiation in modern usage.