separated in space or coming from or going to a distance
"distant villages"
"the sound of distant traffic"
"a distant sound"
"a distant telephone call"
Far off (physically, logically or mentally).
"The distant mountains stood quietly on the horizon, far removed from our bustling village."
In plain English: Distant means being far away from someone or something, either physically or emotionally.
"The distant mountains were covered in snow."
Usage: Use distant to describe physical separation as well as emotional detachment or lack of closeness in relationships. Avoid confusing it with far away when you specifically need to emphasize a psychological barrier rather than just location.
The word entered English via the Old French distant, which itself came directly from the Latin distans. It has retained its original meaning of being far away throughout this journey across languages.