Achievement vs. Feat — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Urooj Arif — Updated on April 2, 2024
Achievement refers to a significant accomplishment often resulting from hard work or skill, while a feat is an extraordinary act showcasing courage, strength, or skill.
Difference Between Achievement and Feat
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Achievements are generally recognized as significant accomplishments or milestones that are the result of consistent effort and work within a certain field or activity. These can range from personal achievements to professional successes, emphasizing the process and effort behind reaching a specific goal. On the other hand, feats are often viewed as acts of bravery, strength, or skill that are exceptional and not commonly performed. Feats tend to highlight a moment of extraordinary performance or capability, often surprising or awe-inspiring to others.
Achievements often have a broader context and can include a wide range of accomplishments such as educational degrees, awards, or personal milestones like buying a house or achieving a life goal. These are markers of progress or success in an individual's life or career. Whereas feats are more specific and are usually tied to physical or mental challenges that are overcome in a remarkable manner. Feats are often used to describe acts that go beyond the norm and demonstrate exceptional skill or courage.
In the realm of achievements, the focus is on the outcome and the significance it holds in a broader context, such as the impact on one's career, personal development, or contribution to society. Achievements are celebrated for their lasting value and the journey to attaining them. Feats, on the other hand, emphasize the extraordinary nature of the act itself, often celebrated for the courage, strength, or skill demonstrated at a specific moment or under particular circumstances.
Achievements can be quantified and measured against set criteria or benchmarks, making them recognizable and often formalized through certificates, awards, or public acknowledgment. This quantifiable aspect underlines their accepted value within a community or profession. Feats, conversely, are celebrated for their uniqueness and may not always fit into a standardized measure of success. The recognition of a feat is more about the admiration of the exceptional effort or skill displayed.
Achievements and feats both serve as sources of inspiration and motivation, but they cater to different aspects of human capability and success. Achievements underline the importance of persistence, planning, and hard work toward long-term goals, while feats showcase the potential for extraordinary acts of skill, strength, or courage that stand out as remarkable examples of human capability.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
A significant accomplishment or success.
An extraordinary act of courage, strength, or skill.
Context
Broad, can be personal, professional, or educational.
Specific, often related to physical or mental challenges.
Emphasis
On the process and effort leading to the outcome.
On the extraordinary nature of the act itself.
Recognition
Often formalized through awards or certificates.
Celebrated for uniqueness, may not fit standardized measures.
Example
Earning a PhD.
Climbing Mount Everest without supplemental oxygen.
Compare with Definitions
Achievement
A significant accomplishment or attainment.
Her latest book is a remarkable achievement in literature.
Feat
A notable act or performance.
Her feat in the championship game solidified her status as a legend.
Achievement
The act of achieving something.
His achievement in the field of science was recognized worldwide.
Feat
A remarkable or outstanding act.
Completing the puzzle in record time was no small feat.
Achievement
A thing done successfully with effort, skill, or courage.
Completing the marathon was a personal achievement for him.
Feat
An extraordinary or unusual act.
His feat of memory impressed everyone in the room.
Achievement
The process of achieving something.
The achievement of such a high sales target required teamwork.
Feat
An achievement that requires great courage, skill, or strength.
Scaling that steep cliff was an incredible feat of bravery.
Achievement
The successful attainment of a goal, especially by effort.
Receiving her master's degree was a significant achievement for her.
Feat
An act or deed that shows daring, skill, or strength.
The gymnast's feat on the balance beam won her the gold medal.
Achievement
A thing done successfully with effort, skill, or courage
To reach this stage is a great achievement
Feat
An achievement that requires great courage, skill, or strength
The new printing presses were considerable feats of engineering
Achievement
The process or fact of achieving something
The achievement of professional recognition
A sense of achievement
Assessing ability in terms of academic achievement
Feat
An act or accomplishment of great courage, skill, or imagination; an achievement.
Achievement
A representation of a coat of arms with all the adjuncts to which a bearer of arms is entitled.
Feat
(Obsolete) A specialized skill; a knack.
Achievement
The process of achieving something
She devoted her life to the achievement of voting rights for women.
Feat
Adroit; dexterous.
Achievement
Something that has been achieved, especially by means of skill or perseverance
The discovery of antibiotics is one of the great achievements of modern medicine.
Feat
Neat; trim.
Achievement
The act of achieving or performing; a successful performance; accomplishment.
Feat
A relatively rare or difficult accomplishment.
I consider scaling Mount Blanc the greatest physical feat of my life.
Raising six children who all went on to be doctors was a tough feat for us.
Achievement
A great or heroic deed or feat; something accomplished by valor or boldness.
Feat
(archaic) Dexterous in movements or service; skilful; neat; pretty.
Achievement
(heraldry) An escutcheon or ensign armorial; a full display or depiction of all the heraldic components to which the bearer of a coat of arms is entitled; a funeral shield: the hatchment.
Feat
(obsolete) To form; to fashion.
Achievement
(video games) An award for completing a particular task or meeting an objective in a video game.
Finishing the game does not give you a 100% score until you have unlocked all of the achievements.
Feat
To feature.
Achievement
The lexical aspect (aktionsart) of verbs or predicates that change in an instant.
Feat
An act; a deed; an exploit.
The warlike feats I have done.
Achievement
(sociology) The successful completion of a socially defined goal or task, highlighting individual or group accomplishment.
Feat
A striking act of strength, skill, or cunning; a trick; as, feats of horsemanship, or of dexterity.
Achievement
The act of achieving or performing; an obtaining by exertion; successful performance; accomplishment; as, the achievement of his object.
Feat
To form; to fashion.
To the more mature,A glass that feated them.
Achievement
A great or heroic deed; something accomplished by valor, boldness, or praiseworthy exertion; a feat.
[The exploits] of the ancient saints . . . do far surpass the most famous achievements of pagan heroes.
The highest achievements of the human intellect.
Feat
Dexterous in movements or service; skillful; neat; nice; pretty.
Never master had a page . . . so feat.
And look how well my garments sit upon me -Much feater than before.
Achievement
An escutcheon or ensign armorial; now generally applied to the funeral shield commonly called hatchment.
Feat
A notable achievement;
He performed a great deed
The book was her finest effort
Achievement
The action of accomplishing something
Common Curiosities
What constitutes a feat?
A feat is an extraordinary act that showcases remarkable skill, strength, or courage.
Can a feat also be considered an achievement?
Yes, feats can be considered achievements, especially when they mark significant personal or professional milestones.
Are achievements always professional or educational?
No, achievements can also be personal and vary widely from individual accomplishments to life milestones.
Is it easier to achieve a feat or an achievement?
This depends on the context and the individual's skills or resources; both can be challenging in different ways.
Can achievements be measured?
Yes, achievements can often be quantified or measured against certain criteria or benchmarks.
Are feats always related to physical challenges?
Not always; feats can also involve mental challenges or acts of courage that are not physical.
What is an example of a feat?
Climbing a mountain without the use of supplemental oxygen is an example of a feat.
How do society and culture impact the recognition of achievements and feats?
Cultural and societal norms influence what is considered an achievement or a feat, including how they are recognized and celebrated.
How do achievements and feats differ in recognition?
Achievements are often formally recognized with awards or certificates, while feats are celebrated for their uniqueness and extraordinary nature.
What is an achievement?
An achievement is a significant success or accomplishment, often resulting from hard work or effort.
Do achievements require long-term effort?
Generally, yes, achievements often result from consistent effort and planning over time.
What role does persistence play in achieving an achievement?
Persistence is often key in achieving an achievement, as it involves consistent effort and dedication over time.
Why are feats inspiring to others?
Feats are inspiring because they demonstrate human potential for extraordinary acts of skill, courage, and strength, showing what is possible beyond the ordinary.
Can the same act be viewed differently as an achievement or a feat by different people?
Yes, perception of what constitutes an achievement or a feat can vary based on individual values and perspectives.
How do achievements contribute to personal growth?
Achievements contribute to personal growth by fostering a sense of accomplishment, improving self-esteem, and encouraging further success.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
