Noun
an odd or unusual characteristic
Source: WordNetHowever it may be confounded or covered up or counterfeited, this elemental capacity to fight against injustice remains the distinguishing characteristic of human beings. Rollo May
In a government whose distinguishing characteristic should be a diffusion and equalization of its benefits and burdens the advantage of individuals will be augmented at the expense of the community at large. Martin Van Buren
The distinguishing characteristic of small republics is stability: the character of large republics is mutability. Simón Bolívar
Philanthropic people lose all sense of humanity. It is their distinguishing characteristic. Oscar Wilde