Distinction - Words & Phrases
Speak natural English
Only for iPhone
Free · In‑App Purchases · Designed for iPhone. 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.
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。
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。
スマートフォンでの学習のみならずiPadを利用して学習したいので、表示のフォーマットを拡張して欲しい。
スマートフォンでの学習のみならずiPadを利用して学習したいので、表示のフォーマットを拡張して欲しい。
【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
• Fixed an issue where notes deleted due to a problem in the previous version (v.2.2.20) can now be restored.
- We sincerely apologize for the concern and inconvenience caused. We deeply regret the trouble this may have caused. After updating, deleted notes will be automatically restored when you open the app.
- Please note that this applies to notes for users who have been using the app since version v.2.2.19 or earlier. Unfortunately, if you installed v.2.2.20 or v.2.2.21 as a new user, it may be difficult to restore deleted notes. We kindly ask for your understanding.
We will continue to improve the quality of our app based on your feedback to better support your English learning.
Thank you for your continued support.
2.2.23 06/12/2025
• We have resolved the issue that caused notes to be deleted
- We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience. There is a possibility that your previously saved notes can be restored. Please long-press “Contact Distinction App Support” from “Account,” select “Send Data,” and then email your inquiry via “Contact Distinction App Support.”
• We have improved the issue that caused the Browse screen to freeze
We will continue to improve quality based on your feedback so that we can better support your English learning.
Thank you for your continued support.
2.2.22 06/10/2025
• Improved the display during premium content downloads on the Account screen
- When a download is in a pending state, an indicator is shown so the progress is clearly visible
• Added an information button to the purchase records on the Account screen
- For content in which the purchase status isn’t reflected, please refer to the FAQ for guidance
• Fixed a crashing issue in the app
- Crashes occurring under specific conditions were detected and fixed, resulting in more stable performance
If you have any feedback or requests regarding the app, please send us an email via “Account” > “Contact Distinction App Support” within the app.
We would be greatly encouraged if you enjoy using the app and leave us a high‑rated review (⋱ 5 stars ⋰). We will continue to improve quality based on your feedback so that we can better support your English learning.
Thank you for your continued support.
2.2.21 06/09/2025
\This update brings major improvements to your search and learning experience/
● “Search” screen
- Added categories for “Notes,” “Today’s Learning,” “Mastery Level,” and “Rating.”
- Enables AND searches with multiple conditions for more accurate results
- Notes contents are now searchable
- Added filter options to each category for quicker access to relevant information
- Added delete functionality to “Bookmarks” and “History”
- If a keyword appears in an explanation, the relevant explanation will now be shown in the search results
● “Browse” screen
- Now supports filtering by mastery level to help you find words that match your current proficiency
● “Learning” screen
- Added the option to hide the word, its synonym, and example sentences at the top until tapped, for a listen-first approach
- Added “Set as Mastered” to remove known words from your learning list, making progress more efficient
● “Pronunciation Practice” screen
- The “Next” button now skips to unanswered or incorrect words
- “Mark as Correct” lets you fix words that the system fails to recognize
● “Account” screen
- Added an FAQ section for quick reference on common questions
- Now offers an easier device-transfer process, letting you preserve your progress and seamlessly continue learning on a new device
● Other
- Tapping a tab now scrolls to the top of the screen
- Updated internal libraries
- Fixed minor bugs and typos
Distinction App remains committed to helping you expand your vocabulary.
We hope you enjoy this update!
If you find the app helpful, please consider a 5-star review. More updates are on the way!
2.2.20 06/04/2025
・Updated the design of the alert that appears when bookmarking/unbookmarking.
・Added display of purchase records for "Distinction 2000 App" on the "Browse" screen.
・Implemented updates for various libraries.
If you have any feedback or suggestions regarding the app, please feel free to send them via direct message (DM) to our official Twitter account @DistinctionApp. Additionally, we also accept emails through "Account" > "Contact Distinction App Support" within the app.
To facilitate smooth assistance, please paste the copied account information from pressing and holding "Contact Distinction App Support" in Twitter DMs or email us while signed into the app.
Your support and encouragement through favorable reviews (⋱5 stars⋰) would be greatly appreciated by the developers. We will continue striving for quality improvements based on the feedback received to assist you better in your English learning journey.
Thank you for your ongoing support.
2.2.19 03/19/2024
・There was an error in part of the book's content, so we have corrected it.
・We have resolved the issue with the non-functional audio playback stop button.
We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused and express our gratitude to those who reported it.
If you have any feedback or requests regarding the app, please feel free to send us a direct message (DM) on our official Twitter account @DistinctionApp.
We also accept emails via "Account" > "Contact Distinction App Support" within the app.
To facilitate smooth handling, you can paste the copied account information for "Contact Distinction App Support" in Twitter DMs or send us an email while signed in to the app.
Your appreciation of this app, including high-rated reviews (⋱5 stars⋰), would greatly encourage the developers.
We will continue to strive for quality improvement based on your feedback to assist you in your English learning journey.
Thank you for your ongoing support.
2.2.18 03/05/2024
・Now you can use the app while listening to music on services like "Apple Music"!
・We have addressed the following issues*. We apologize for any inconvenience caused:
- Issue where audio playback automatically stops during use
- Issue of multiple audio playback
- Issue where audio switches to the device's speaker when Bluetooth earphones disconnect during playback.
- Issue where the "Today" screen doesn't update after completing "Today's Practice"
* These issues may not have been resolved due to dependencies on the device or operating system. If so, please contact us.
If you have any feedback or suggestions about the app, please feel free to send us a direct message (DM) on our official Twitter account @DistinctionApp.
Alternatively, you can also reach us via email through "Account" > "Inquiries to Distinction App Support" within the app.
For swift assistance, please paste the account information copied by long-pressing "Inquiries to Distinction App Support" on Twitter DM or send an email while signed into the app.
Your support is greatly appreciated. Giving us a high rating (⋱5 stars⋰) would be a great encouragement for the developers.
We will continue striving for quality improvement based on your feedback to assist you in your English learning journey.
Thank you for your ongoing support.
2.2.17 03/04/2024
We apologize for the inconvenience, but we have identified a bug in version 2.2.15 where selecting "Audio" on devices running iOS 17 or later causes the app to crash.
If you have any feedback or suggestions regarding the app, please feel free to send them via direct message (DM) to our official Twitter account @DistinctionApp. Additionally, we accept emails through "Account" > "Inquiries to Distinction App Support" within the app.
To facilitate a smooth resolution, you can either paste the copied account information by long-pressing "Inquiries to Distinction App Support" in Twitter DMs, or send an email while signed into the app.
Your positive reviews (⋱5 stars⋰) would be greatly appreciated as they serve as encouragement for our developers. We are committed to improving the quality based on the feedback we receive to assist you further in your English learning journey.
Thank you for your continued support.
2.2.16 02/09/2024
We have fixed the issue causing the app to crash immediately upon opening. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.
If you have any feedback or suggestions regarding the app, please feel free to send them via direct message (DM) to our official Twitter account @DistinctionApp. Additionally, we also accept emails through the "Account" > "Inquiries to Distinction App Support" section within the app.
To ensure smooth assistance, you can either paste the copied account information by long-pressing "Inquiries to Distinction App Support" on Twitter DM, or send an email while signed in to the app.
Your appreciation of the app and high-rating reviews (⋱5 stars⋰) would greatly encourage our developers. We strive to improve the quality based on your feedback to continue assisting you in your English learning journey.
Thank you for your ongoing support.
2.2.15 02/08/2024
・Added a "Reset" button on the "Filter" screen, along with "Select All" and "Deselect All" buttons for each item. This makes it easier to narrow down the learning scope!
If you have any feedback or requests regarding the app, please feel free to reach out to us through direct messages (DM) on our official Twitter account @DistinctionApp. Additionally, we also accept inquiries via email through the "Account" > "Contact Distinction App Support" section within the app.
To expedite the support process, you can copy and paste the account information that appears when you long-press the "Contact Distinction App Support" in DM on Twitter, or you can send us an email while signed in to the app.
Your favorable support and high-rating reviews (⋱5 stars⋰) would be highly motivating for the developers. We will continue to strive for quality improvement based on the feedback received to assist you better in your English learning journey.
Thank you for your continued support!
2.2.14 07/21/2023
・Resolved an issue on the "Learning" screen where swiping gestures from "Word" to "Synonym" or from "Synonym" to "Word" would cause scrolling to a different item.
・Resolved screen flickering that occurs when displaying the "Learning" screen in Dark Mode.
If you have any feedback or suggestions regarding the app, please feel free to reach out to us via direct message (DM) on our official Twitter account @DistinctionApp.
Alternatively, we also accept emails through the "Account" > "Contact Distinction App Support" option within the app.
To ensure smooth assistance, you can paste the copied account information by long-pressing the "Contact Distinction App Support" option in Twitter DM, or you can send it via email while signed in to the app.
We would greatly appreciate it if you enjoy this app and could provide us with a positive review (⋱5-star rating⋰). It serves as great encouragement for our developers.
We will continue striving for quality improvements based on the feedback we receive to assist you in your English learning journey.
Thank you for your continued support.
2.2.13 07/19/2023
【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.
more Version 2.4.1 Apr 28
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