Contradistinction

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˌkɒntɹədɪˈstɪŋkʃn̩/

Definitions

1. The practice of setting two things in direct opposition to each other in order to emphasize their differing qualities and make their distinctions more evident
2. The process of identifying differences between two or more entities by placing them in direct contrast to one another for clarity in their unique attributes
3. The act of emphasizing the distinct qualities of two items by directly comparing them to show their differences

Etymology: Contradistinction is a straightforward English formation: the prefix "contra-", meaning "against" or "in opposition to", attached to "distinction", a noun meaning a marked difference. The prefix itself comes from Latin "contrā", "against" or "opposite", and the Latin word was built from a Proto-Italic compound meaning roughly "on the other side of," which is why the prefix carries an idea of setting one thing against another. The result is a noun for distinguishing two things by setting them in deliberate opposition, so that each sharpens the other. Its meaning sits close to the sense of a sharp contrast, though the word emphasizes the act of drawing a distinction between opposed items rather than the mere fact of difference.

Synonyms: contrast, distinction