difference
- distinction
‘difference’
The difference between things is the way or ways in which they are not the same.
Is there much difference between British and European law?
There are many differences between computers and humans.
If something makes a difference to a situation, it affects it, usually in a positive way. If something makes no difference to a situation, it doesn't affect it.
The training certainly made a difference to staff performance.
The story about her past made no difference to his feelings for her.
‘distinction’
If someone points out that two things are different, don't say that they ‘make a difference’ between the things. You say that they make a distinction or draw a distinction between them.
It is important to make a distinction between claimants who are over retirement age and those who are not.
He draws a distinction between art and culture.