contradistinction

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)

contradistinction
    n 1: a distinction drawn on the basis of contrast; "sculpture in
         contradistinction to painting"

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Contradistinction \Con`tra*dis*tinc"tion\, n.
   Distinction by contrast.
   [1913 Webster]

         That there are such things as sins of infirmity in
         contradistinction to those of presumption is not to be
         questioned.                              --South.
   [1913 Webster]

from Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0

44 Moby Thesaurus words for "contradistinction":
      antagonism, antipathy, antithesis, clashing, collision, con,
      conflict, confrontation, contradiction, contraindication,
      contraposition, contrariety, contrast, counterposition,
      cross-purposes, demarcation, differentiation, disagreement,
      discrepancy, distinction, distinctiveness, distinguishment,
      division, hairsplitting, hostility, inconsistency, inimicalness,
      microscopic distinction, nice distinction, nuance, oppositeness,
      opposition, opposure, oppugnance, oppugnancy, perversity, polarity,
      repugnance, segregation, separation, shade of difference, showdown,
      subtle distinction, trichoschistism