Distinctive vs. Unique

Distinguishing, used to or enabling the distinguishing of some thing.

Example: ‘a product in distinctive packaging’;

(rare) Discriminating, discerning, having the ability to distinguish between things.

Characteristic, typical.

Example: ‘his distinctive bass voice’;

(rare) Distinguished, being distinct in character or position.

Used to separate clauses in place of stops.

Distinguishing a particular sense of word.

A distinctive thing: a quality or property permitting distinguishing; a characteristic.

A distinctive accent.

(theology) A distinctive belief, tenet, or dogma of a denomination or sect.

Marking or expressing distinction or difference; distinguishing; characteristic; peculiar.

Example: ‘The distinctive character and institutions of New England.’;

Having the power to distinguish and discern; discriminating.

of a feature that helps to distinguish a person or thing;

Example: ‘Jerusalem has a distinctive Middle East flavor’; ‘that is typical of you!’;

possible to classify

serving to distinguish or identify a species or group;

Example: ‘the distinguishing mark of the species is its plumage’; ‘distinctive tribal tattoos’; ‘we were asked to describe any identifying marks or distinguishing features’;

characteristic of one person or thing, and so serving to distinguish it from others

Example: ‘juniper berries give gin its distinctive flavour’;

(uncomparable) Being the only one of its kind; unequaled, unparalleled or unmatched.

Example: ‘Every person has a unique life, therefore every person has a unique journey. ― Gary Cook’;

Of a feature, such that only one holder has it.

Particular, characteristic.

(proscribed) Of a rare quality, unusual.

A thing without a like; something unequalled or unparallelled.

Being without a like or equal; unmatched; unequaled; unparalleled; single in kind or excellence; sole.

A thing without a like; something unequaled or unparalleled.

Example: ‘The phenix, the unique pf birds.’;

radically distinctive and without equal;

Example: ‘he is alone in the field of microbiology’; ‘this theory is altogether alone in its penetration of the problem’; ‘Bach was unique in his handling of counterpoint’; ‘craftsmen whose skill is unequaled’; ‘unparalleled athletic ability’; ‘a breakdown of law unparalleled in our history’;

(followed by `to') applying exclusively to a given category or condition or locality;

Example: ‘a species unique to Australia’;

the single one of its kind;

Example: ‘a singular example’; ‘the unique existing example of Donne's handwriting’; ‘a unique copy of an ancient manuscript’; ‘certain types of problems have unique solutions’;

highly unusual or rare but not the single instance;

Example: ‘spoke with a unique accent’; ‘had unique ability in raising funds’; ‘a frankness unique in literature’; ‘a unique dining experience’;

being the only one of its kind; unlike anything else

Example: ‘the situation was unique in British politics’; ‘original and unique designs’;

belonging or connected to (one particular person, place, or thing)

Example: ‘a style of architecture that is unique to Portugal’;

particularly remarkable, special, or unusual

Example: ‘a unique opportunity to see the spectacular Bolshoi Ballet’;

a unique person or thing

Example: ‘some of Lamb's writings were so memorably beautiful as to be uniques in their class’;