distinction

distinction is on the Academic Word List.

Noun

(countable) A distinction is a difference that you have noticed or decided is important. Often used to separate things.
Before we discuss how you can develop your creative powers, we need to make a distinction between two different but related activities --; THINKING and LEARNING.

There is, in other words, no neat or clear distinction to be drawn between political equality and social and economic equality.
(uncountable) If something is done with distinction, it is done to a high level and other people recognise that.
We only wanted to take athletes of distinction; no one is going just for the trip.