distinction vs contrast

distinction and contrast both are nouns.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
distinction	Yes	No	No	No
contrast	Yes	No	Yes	No

As nouns, contrast is a hyponym of distinction; that is, contrast is a word with a more specific, narrower meaning than distinction:

distinction: a discrimination between things as different and distinct on the basis of their characteristics or attributes
contrast: a conceptual separation or distinction

Other hyponyms of distinction include contradistinction, demarcation, dividing line, line, hairsplitting, word-splitting.

distinction (noun)	contrast (noun)
a distinguishing difference between similar things or people	the act of distinguishing by comparing differences
a discrimination between things as different and distinct on the basis of their characteristics or attributes	the range of optical density and tone on a photographic negative or print (or the extent to which adjacent areas on a television screen differ in brightness)
an honor awarded to someone in recognition of achievement or superiority	the perceptual effect of the juxtaposition of very different colors
high status importance owing to marked superiority	a conceptual separation or distinction
	the opposition or dissimilarity of things that are compared

distinction (verb)	contrast (verb)
	put in opposition to show or emphasize differences
	to show differences when compared; be different