Distinction - Words & Phrases
Speak natural English
Free · In‑App Purchases · Designed for iPad. Not verified for macOS.
Fully offline. Learn 2,530 words and phrases with 5,320 natural examples, native-speaker audio, etymology, and Study Mode. 120 words + 7 structures free.
Textbook English may make sense on the page, but real conversations can still be hard to follow.
Distinction is an English learning app that helps you move from recognising English to actually using it.
It focuses on the words and phrases native speakers genuinely use in everyday life, but learners rarely meet in conventional study materials. With natural example sentences, native-speaker audio, word origins, English definitions, and pronunciation practice, everything you need to learn usable English is in one place.
Supports Distinction I–VI and Structures. Includes 2,530 carefully selected words and phrases and 5,320 practical example sentences, created with five native speakers from the US, UK, and Australia.
【What makes Distinction different】
• Carefully selected real-life words and phrases
• Natural example sentences and audio for every entry — American and British English
• English definitions and etymology that help ideas stick
• Pronunciation, listening, and speaking practice in one learning flow
• Fully offline once downloaded — study on your commute, on flights, or abroad without using mobile data
【App features】
• Study Mode based on spaced repetition and active recall
• Personalised study plans based on your time and goals
• Automatic review of weaker items
• Streaks, levels, XP, and completion certificates
• Fast search across headwords, examples, and explanations
• Speech recognition for pronunciation practice
(main entries only; Structures excluded)
• Audio filters, autoplay, and shuffle
• Progress tracking with graphs and statistics
【Pricing】
• Free to try — 120 words + 7 structures included
• Unlock only the titles you want with one-time in-app purchases
• No subscription
• No external ads
more It’s perfect for learning conversational English. I really needed this.
It’s perfect for learning conversational English. I really needed this.
散歩中や運転中などの隙間時間にいつも使っています。教科書英語ではなく、実際にネイティブが使う自然な英語表現を学べるのが魅力です。シンプルで使いやすく、無理なく続けられます。ネイティブの友人にも見せたことがありますが、「良いアプリだね」と好評でした。日本語を勉強している友人からは、英語話者向けの日本語版があればぜひ使いたいと言われたこともあります。
Developer Response 日頃よりDistinction Appをご利用いただき、そして嬉しいレビューをお寄せいただきありがとうございます!散歩中や運転中など、日常のすき間時間にご活用いただけているとのこと、大変嬉しく拝見しました。また、「教科書的ではなく、実際にネイティブが使う自然な英語表現」という点を評価いただけたことも、チーム一同とても励みになります。日本語話者だけでなく、英語話者のお友達にもご紹介いただきありがとうございます。英語話者向けの日本語版についてのご要望も、今後のサービス開発の参考にさせていただきます。これからもより良い学習体験をお届けできるよう努めてまいります。今後ともDistinction Appをどうぞよろしくお願いいたします。
散歩中や運転中などの隙間時間にいつも使っています。教科書英語ではなく、実際にネイティブが使う自然な英語表現を学べるのが魅力です。シンプルで使いやすく、無理なく続けられます。ネイティブの友人にも見せたことがありますが、「良いアプリだね」と好評でした。日本語を勉強している友人からは、英語話者向けの日本語版があればぜひ使いたいと言われたこともあります。
日頃よりDistinction Appをご利用いただき、そして嬉しいレビューをお寄せいただきありがとうございます!散歩中や運転中など、日常のすき間時間にご活用いただけているとのこと、大変嬉しく拝見しました。また、「教科書的ではなく、実際にネイティブが使う自然な英語表現」という点を評価いただけたことも、チーム一同とても励みになります。日本語話者だけでなく、英語話者のお友達にもご紹介いただきありがとうございます。英語話者向けの日本語版についてのご要望も、今後のサービス開発の参考にさせていただきます。これからもより良い学習体験をお届けできるよう努めてまいります。今後ともDistinction Appをどうぞよろしくお願いいたします。
オーディオの発音練習でpluckを認識しない。 録音状態でモデル音声を流してもOKにならない。
オーディオの発音練習でpluckを認識しない。 録音状態でモデル音声を流してもOKにならない。
海外で仕事をしています。勉強の技術と呼ばれ難語をクリア-にする正確な技術を使って学んでいますが、英和辞典には限界があり、英英辞典ではさらにわからない単語にでくわすといった悲劇に見舞われてました。コミュニケーションで伝えようとする意図が何かが例文や語源を通じて理解できるように構成されてているので、自分で例文を作るヒントになり、例文を何度も作って、概念的な理解を得ることが容易にできるようになりました。意図を受け止めることに難しさを抱えていましたが、できるようになってきている実感があります。
海外で仕事をしています。勉強の技術と呼ばれ難語をクリア-にする正確な技術を使って学んでいますが、英和辞典には限界があり、英英辞典ではさらにわからない単語にでくわすといった悲劇に見舞われてました。コミュニケーションで伝えようとする意図が何かが例文や語源を通じて理解できるように構成されてているので、自分で例文を作るヒントになり、例文を何度も作って、概念的な理解を得ることが容易にできるようになりました。意図を受け止めることに難しさを抱えていましたが、できるようになってきている実感があります。
【Improvements】
- Fixed an issue where, after restoring from a backup, books whose audio had not been downloaded might not show a download button, and tapping Download in the “Download Required” message did not download them.
- Fixed hardware keyboard issues on iPad and other devices: Today and other screens might not update after you closed Learning or another screen with Esc, and keyboard shortcuts for Learning could respond even while another screen was shown on top of it.
- Made other minor bug fixes.
【Notice】
- Learning data can be transferred to the app on another platform. A backup must be created beforehand.
If you notice any issues or have suggestions, please feel free to send them to us through the “Feedback & Requests” form.
2.7.3 Oct 21
【New Features】
- Added a filter to Today. Use the button next to Settings to narrow Today's lists by level (chapter for Structures), part of speech, and item, or to show them in random order. It is set separately from the Browse filter.
- After reaching today's goal, Today's Review can now be limited to the words you marked Hard.
- Search lists such as Bookmarks and Ratings can now be shown in random order.
- You can now study with a hardware keyboard on iPad and other devices.
Space: Show or hide the answer
1/2/3: Answer Easy, Good, or Hard
←/→: Previous or next word
[ / ]: Previous or next tab
R: Play audio
⌘Z: Undo the previous answer
- Added explanations of new words, words to review, and proficiency to the study plan and Stats.
【Improvements】
- Words reviewed on their review date now correctly move up a level. Previously, answering Good on that day did not raise the level, and the word appeared again the next day.
- The confirmation shown when starting a book over now lists what will be reset.
- Text in word details, Learning, and Today now follows the iPhone and iPad Text Size setting, including per-app settings.
- Fixed an issue where the words you entered in Search could be shown in a different order.
- Fixed an issue where study reminders could show a streak even after the streak had ended.
- Made the guidance clearer when the same email address is already used with a different sign-in method.
- Fixed an issue where the app could fail to finish preparing if audio data could not be prepared at launch.
- Fixed an issue on iPad where the app could quit unexpectedly, such as when switching apps or changing the window size.
- Fixed an issue on iPad where changing the window size while Search was open could switch you to a different screen.
- Made other minor bug fixes.
【Notice】
- Learning data can be transferred to the app on another platform. A backup must be created beforehand.
If you notice any issues or have suggestions, please feel free to send them to us through the “Feedback & Requests” form.
2.7.2 Oct 19
Now available on iPad. See the list and the details side by side on a larger screen.
【New Features】
- The app now supports iPad. On a wide iPad screen, the list appears on the left and the details on the right, so the screen no longer switches every time you choose a word.
- The sidebar takes you straight to “Focus Study” (Today’s Learning / Proficiency / Ratings) and “Saved Items” (Bookmarks / Notes / History).
- A bar with the tabs and search has been added at the top of the screen. It also adapts when you split the screen or resize the window.
- You can now buy sets in the app, including book sets, Complete sets with British English audio, and British English audio sets. The sets shown depend on what you already own.
【Improvements】
- Various minor issues have been fixed.
【Notice】
- Learning data can be transferred to the app on another platform. A backup must be created beforehand.
If you notice any issues or have suggestions, please feel free to send them to us through the “Feedback & Requests” form.
2.7.0 Oct 6
【Improvements】
- Fixed an issue where, with “Day Transition Time” set to a time other than 0:00, opening the app between 0:00 and that time could make the day change at 0:00, so that “Today's Learning” started over from the beginning or the “Day N” count on the start screen advanced by one.
【Notice】
- Learning data can be transferred to the app on another platform. A backup must be created beforehand.
If you notice any issues or have suggestions, please feel free to send them to us through the “Feedback & Requests” form.
2.6.5 Sep 25
【New Features】
- Added “Recent Searches” to the “Search” tab. When the search field is empty, the terms you recently searched for appear below it, and you can tap one to search for it again.
- Recent Searches start with the searches you make after this update. Tap × to remove a single term, or tap “Clear” to remove them all.
【Notice】
- Learning data can be transferred to the app on another platform. A backup must be created beforehand.
If you notice any issues or have suggestions, please feel free to send them to us through the “Feedback & Requests” form.
2.6.4 Sep 23
【Improvements】
- Fixed an issue where the app could quit unexpectedly, such as when audio finished playing to the end.
- Fixed an issue where the app could quit unexpectedly, such as when moving on to the next word while learning.
- Fixed an issue in “Pronunciation Practice” where the app could quit or recording could fail to start, such as when the record button was tapped
repeatedly or when recording started at the same time as audio playback.
- Made other minor bug fixes.
【Notice】
- Learning data can be transferred to the app on another platform. A backup must be created beforehand.
If you notice any issues or have suggestions, please feel free to send them to us through the “Feedback & Requests” form.
2.6.3 Sep 21
【Improvements】
- Fixed an issue where the keyboard in “Search” could not be switched to Japanese input, so words could not be looked up by their Japanese meaning or by note.
- Made other minor bug fixes.
【Notice】
- Learning data can be transferred to the app on another platform. A backup must be created beforehand.
If you notice any issues or have suggestions, please feel free to send them to us through the “Feedback & Requests” form.
2.6.2 Sep 21
【Improvements】
- Fixed an issue where an error such as “Purchase Failed” could appear at launch and the list in “Browse” might not load.
- Fixed an issue where the same error could appear repeatedly if preparing the audio for a purchased book failed.
- Fixed an issue where the app’s audio could become hard to hear after speech recognition failed to start in Pronunciation Practice.
- Made other minor bug fixes.
【Notice】
- Learning data can be transferred to the app on another platform. A backup must be created beforehand.
If you notice any issues or have suggestions, please feel free to send them to us through the “Feedback & Requests” form.
2.6.1 Sep 14
Distinction and Distinction 2000 are now connected.
【New Features】
- In the Distinction 2000 app, you can tap an expression from Distinction that appears in an example sentence to instantly view the corresponding entry in this app.
- Added a new form for reporting issues and submitting feedback.
【Improvements】
- Improved speech recognition performance.
- Updated the layout of the “Learning History” screen.
- Fixed an issue where a note could be linked to a different word.
- Fixed an issue that could prevent the app from launching after restoring from a backup.
- Corrected errors in word data reported by users.
- Made other minor bug fixes.
【Notice】
- Learning data can be transferred to the app on another platform. A backup must be created beforehand.
If you notice any issues or have suggestions, please feel free to send them to us through the new form.
2.6.0 Aug 28
What's New
The example sentences for the headword you're viewing are now a doorway into the rest of Distinction. As you read, you can dig straight into the explanation of any expression that catches your eye.
- Tap an expression in an example sentence to reach the related headword's explanation in an instant
- Turn that "I've seen this phrase somewhere" hunch into an answer on the spot
- Let one example sentence carry you onward to the expressions connected to it, without breaking your flow
Bit by bit, the expressions you've learned start to link together, and all of Distinction comes into view as one connected whole.
We've also fixed a few minor bugs.
If you like to wander through Distinction with an example sentence as your starting point, give this update a try. If you're enjoying the app, a review on the App Store would mean a lot to us.
2.5.0 Jun 24
What's New
The player screen now gives you finer control, so you can listen at your own pace and loop until it sticks.
- A new playback bar lets you see where you are and jump straight to the part you want to hear
- 3-second back / 3-second forward let you instantly re-listen to anything you missed
- Toggle between repeat-all and repeat-one to drill a single track as many times as you need
If you shadow or dictate, this update is built for that "wait, one more time" moment.
Improvements
The long-press copy popup is back and better. You can now copy the headword along with its synonyms in one tap.
We've also fixed a few minor bugs.
If you'd like to listen, mimic, and master English at your own pace, give this update a try. If you're enjoying the app, a review on the App Store would mean a lot to us.
2.4.2 May 24
【New】
You can now A/B-compare American and British English in an instant. Press and hold an English word or sentence to open a panel where you can switch accents and adjust playback speed on the spot. You can also change the speed from Settings, and your choice is saved across sessions so you can pick up right where you left off. Listen to the same word or sentence in US and UK back-to-back to lock the differences into your ear.
【Improvements】
- Fixed an issue where British phonetic symbols could be shown when American English was selected.
- Fixed a few minor bugs.
If you'd like to listen, mimic, and master English at your own pace, give this update a try.
If you're enjoying the app, a review on the App Store would mean a lot to us.
2.4.1 Apr 28
【New】
British English support is finally here. You can now switch between American and British English in Accent Settings, where you can check audio, phonetic symbols, and accent conversion guidance all in one place. Hear the differences, see the differences, and understand them more deeply.
【Improvements】
- Improved speech recognition accuracy and stability, making pronunciation checks smoother.
- Fixed a few minor bugs.
To build English skills that go beyond American pronunciation, give this update a try and start learning British English more thoroughly.
If you're enjoying the app, a review on the App Store would mean a lot to us.
2.4.0 Apr 18
【Improvements & Fixes】
- Fixed challenge mode lap count display: Resolved an issue where lap counts could appear as 0 or less than one lap in some cases. Existing learning records are now reflected correctly.
- Fixed an issue where the "Note" button on the learning screen could disappear when using iPad multitasking with another app.
We hope this update helps with your daily learning.
If you enjoy the app, we'd love to hear from you — please leave a review or rating!
2.3.7 Feb 24
【Improvements & Fixes】
- Improved achievement screen usability: You can now hide the study report button from the Settings screen, making it easier to dismiss the achievement screen.
We hope this update helps with your daily learning.
If you enjoy the app, we'd love to hear from you — please leave a review or rating!
2.3.6 Feb 21
【Improvements & Fixes】
- Fixed notification bug: Resolved an issue where daily reminders were still sent after being turned OFF.
2.3.5 Feb 12
【New Features】
- Studyplus integration: You can now share your learning activity from the app directly to Studyplus.
【Improvements & Fixes】
- Improved stability: Fixed an issue that could cause the app to crash under certain conditions.
We hope this update helps support your daily learning.
If you enjoy using the app, we’d really appreciate it if you could leave a review or rating.
2.3.4 Feb 9
New Features
- Learning Reminders: Get notified at your chosen time to build a consistent daily study habit.
- Distinction Challenge Notifications: Stay up to date with challenge announcements and track your progress during events.
- Information Updates: Be the first to know about new content and app updates.
Improvements and Fixes
- Smoother Study Reports: Create and edit study reports in the app, both during challenges and in normal study mode.
- Easier Sharing of Achievements: Share your progress and completion certificates for each book just like a study report.
- Improved Learning Records: Audio playback time is now included in your study history.
- Stability Improvements: Fixed minor issues related to study plan settings.
We hope this update supports your daily learning. If you’re enjoying the app, we’d appreciate a review or rating.
2.3.3 Jan 29
・Added support for iOS 26’s new “Liquid Glass” design.
・Fixed minor bugs and improved stability.
Distinction App will continue to support your vocabulary growth. If you enjoy using the app, we’d really appreciate your support with a 5-star review on the App Store.
2.3.2 10/01/2025
・You can now refresh the Account screen by opening it or by pulling down to update to the latest status.
・Fixed typos in book content.
Distinction App will continue to support your vocabulary development. If you enjoy the app, we'd appreciate your support with a 5‑star review on the App Store.
2.3.1 09/07/2025
Released: Distinction VI
・New content: We’ve added “Distinction VI,” the 7th book in the Distinction series. It includes 400 new English expressions and 800 example sentences to help you build practical vocabulary.
・New setting: You can now disable automatic audio playback on the Learning screen.
Settings: Today > Settings > Auto Play Audio
Distinction App continues to support your vocabulary growth. If you enjoy the app, we’d appreciate a 5‑star review on the App Store.
2.3.0 09/06/2025
• Minor bug fixes and stability improvements.
We are committed to continuously improving the app based on your valuable feedback, so we can better support your English learning journey.
Thank you for your continued support!
2.2.27 06/20/2025
• Minor bug fixes and stability improvements.
We are committed to continuously improving the app based on your valuable feedback, so we can better support your English learning journey.
Thank you for your continued support!
2.2.26 06/19/2025
• Fixed an issue where a "Download Required" alert appeared even though the paid content had already been downloaded.
- This issue occurred on some devices under specific conditions. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience. If you still see a "Download" button on the "Account" screen, please try downloading the content again.
We’re committed to continuously improving the quality of the app based on your valuable feedback, so we can better support your English learning journey.
Thank you for your continued support!
2.2.25 06/17/2025
\You can now customize when your “day” starts/
Even if you study late at night, it still counts toward your daily goal—perfect for night owls.
You can change this setting via “Today” > “Settings.”
• Fixed an issue where study sessions couldn’t be started while offline.
– You can now study with confidence even in places with poor connectivity, such as on a plane or in areas with unstable networks.
• Addressed an issue where a “Download Required” alert appeared even though paid content had already been downloaded.
– This issue has been observed on certain devices under specific conditions. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience. We are currently investigating the root cause, and have implemented a temporary workaround. If the problem persists, we’d greatly appreciate it if you could contact us.
The Distinction App is here to fully support your vocabulary-building journey.
We hope this update brings you an even smoother learning experience.
If you’re enjoying the app, we’d be truly grateful for your support with a ⋱5-star review⋰!
2.2.24 06/16/2025
【Improvements】
- Fixed an issue where, after restoring from a backup, books whose audio had not been downloaded might not show a download button, and tapping Download in the “Download Required” message did not download them.
- Fixed hardware keyboard issues on iPad and other devices: Today and other screens might not update after you closed Learning or another screen with Esc, and keyboard shortcuts for Learning could respond even while another screen was shown on top of it.
- Made other minor bug fixes.
【Notice】
- Learning data can be transferred to the app on another platform. A backup must be created beforehand.
If you notice any issues or have suggestions, please feel free to send them to us through the “Feedback & Requests” form.
more Version 2.7.3 Oct 21
Data Not Linked to You The following data may be collected but it is not linked to your identity:
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