distinction without a difference

Definitions

1. 1

   A linguistic or conceptual distinction which is of no practical importance or which has…

   A linguistic or conceptual distinction which is of no practical importance or which has no effect on meaning; a perceived difference where there is no actual difference.

   • "'The Active Inquirer' is the present name, though when we supported Mr. Adams it was called 'The Active Enquirer,' with an E." "A distinction without a difference; I like that," interrupted Captain Truck.
   • I said . . . I did not speak English at all—I only spoke American. He laughed, and said it was a distinction without a difference. I said no, the difference was not prodigious, but still it was considerable.
   • The fact that the sit-in convictions were under state rather than federal law, ruled last week's majority, is "a distinction without a difference."

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