KirklandEllis
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LSDefine
Simple English definitions for legal terms
distinguish
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A quick definition of distinguish:
Term: distinguish
Definition: Distinguish means to notice a big difference or dissimilarity between things. When people distinguish one case from another, they are pointing out that there is a difference between the two cases. This is often done in court to argue that a previous decision should not apply to the current case because of the differences between them.
A more thorough explanation:
Definition: To distinguish means to note a significant difference or dissimilarity (usually between cases); to make a distinction.
For example, in a court case, a lawyer may try to distinguish their client's case from a previous case by pointing out key differences in the facts or circumstances. This is done in order to argue that the previous case should not be used as a precedent for the current case.
Another example could be distinguishing between two similar products in order to make a decision on which one to purchase. By noting the differences between the products, a person can make an informed choice based on their individual needs and preferences.
In both examples, the act of distinguishing involves identifying and highlighting important differences in order to make a decision or argument.