physical distance

noun

medical

: a greater than usual physical separation between people during the outbreak of a contagious disease in order to minimize exposure and reduce the transmission of infection

Health professionals are urging the public to … stay home when sick and keep a physical distance between oneself and others to reduce the risk of being exposed to the virus.

—The Norman Transcript (Norman, Oklahoma)

The models don't reveal how long Canadians will have to maintain physical distance, but they do indicate the measures will need to be in place "for a considerable amount of time," [Dr. Theresa] Tam said.

—Samantha Beattie

compare social distance sense 2

Examples of physical distance in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Readers of the play may realize the script famously does not usually include a kiss, the Bard intending for the physical distance between Romeo and Juliet to serve as a symbol of the hatred that exists between the families of the torn lovers. —Dave Quinn, People.com, 25 Oct. 2024

Particles can exist in multiple states at one time (superposition) and affect the state of each other, no matter the physical distance between them (entanglement). —Pramod Kumar, Forbes, 22 Oct. 2024

Mowry shut down those assumptions, clarifying that the comments pertained to physical distance. —Jessica Wang, EW.com, 11 Oct. 2024

An increase in remote and hybrid work created physical distance that elevated the feeling of emotional disconnection between people and groups. —Andrew Deutscher, Forbes, 17 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

2003, in the meaning defined above