← Back to search

Meaning of type-token distinction | Babel Free

Noun CEFR B2

Definitions

The distinction between a type of something and an instance of it, such as city and capital city (type of city) versus city and Paris (instance of a city). (It is the difference between (1) hypernym and hyponym and (2) class and instance.)
An instance of this distinction being made.

Examples

“Without the type-token distinction being made, some silly thinking can slip through.”

“They're making several type-token distinctions in this paragraph.”

CEFR level

B2

Upper Intermediate
This word is part of the CEFR B2 vocabulary — upper intermediate level.

See also

type-token ratio Type-wheel type-word type-writer type, sort, kind typeability