award vs distinction

award

noun
  • A trophy or medal; something that denotes an accomplishment, especially in a competition. A prize or honor based on merit. 

  • A negotiated set of employment conditions and minimum wages for a particular trade or industry; an industrial award. 

  • A judgment, sentence, or final decision. Specifically: The decision of arbitrators in a case submitted. 

  • The paper containing the decision of arbitrators; that which is warded. 

verb
  • To determine; to make or grant an award. 

  • To give (an award). 

  • To give by sentence or judicial determination; to assign or apportion, after careful regard to the nature of the case. 

  • To give (a person) an award. 

distinction

noun
  • Specifically, a feature that causes someone or something to stand out as being better; a mark of honour, rank, eminence or excellence; being distinguished. 

  • That which distinguishes; a single occurrence of a determining factor or feature, the fact of being divided; separation, discrimination. 

  • The act of distinguishing, discriminating; discrimination. 

How often have the words award and distinction occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )