1 easily or clearly heard, seen, felt, etc:
There was a distinct smell of gas. * His voice was quiet but every word was distinct.
2 ~ (from sth) clearly different or of a different kind:
The results of the survey fell into two distinct groups. * Jamaican reggae music is quite distinct from North American jazz or blues. * rural areas, as distinct from major cities
3 [onlybeforenoun] used to emphasize that you think an idea or situation definitely exists and is important:
Being tall gave Tony a distinct advantage. * I had the distinct impression I was being watched. * A strike is now a distinct possibility.
distinctly adverb:
I distinctly heard someone calling me. * a distinctly Australian accent * He could remember everything very distinctly.
distinctness noun [U]
