Distinction is a frequently used, but rarely systematized fundamental concept in sociology. It is particularly utilized in cultural and consumption sociology, as well as in social structure analysis and sociological theory. It can be observed that an understanding of the concept, even without a theoretical affinity to practice theory, has made its way into the analytical repertoire of both German-speaking and international research. This makes a systematic introduction to the subject all the more important. Oliver Berli provides a compact overview of theoretical and empirical insights into the central sociological perspectives on distinction phenomena, illuminating both the practical and material dimensions of the concept.