type-token distinction

noun2

1. •
   The distinction between a type of something and an instance of it, such as city and capital city (type of city) versus city and Paris (instance of a city). (It is the difference between (1) hypernym and hyponym and (2) class and instance.)

   • Without the type-token distinction being made, some silly thinking can slip through.
2. •
   An instance of this distinction being made.

   • They're making several type-token distinctions in this paragraph.