proximity
noun
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The fact that the star closest in proximity to our sun (approximately 4.2 light-years distant) is named Proxima Centauri is no coincidence. The history of proximity hinges on the idea of closeness, both physical and metaphorical. English speakers borrowed the word from Middle French, which in turn acquired it from forms of the Latin adjective proximus, meaning "nearest" or "next." Close relatives of proximity in English include proximal, proximate, and the somewhat more rare approximal (meaning "contiguous"). A number of other languages, including Catalan, Portuguese, and Italian, have similar words that come from the Latin proximus.
Examples of proximity in a Sentence
Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA TODAY, 14 Mar. 2025
Because of the proximity of pets at home and the fact that the virus is shed through body fluids, including saliva, however, there is still a real transmission risk, Sykes says.
—Jude Coleman, Scientific American, 14 Mar. 2025
While the proximity of the proxy tree helped hugely, the process of safely shifting a tree weighing more than half a million pounds – documented in a video produced by the PGA Tour – was an eye-watering logistical challenge.
—Jack Bantock, CNN, 14 Mar. 2025
The cities and towns included in Destination: Retirement 2025 were selected from a list of counties Investopedia ranked according to several factors a retiree might consider, including cost of living, proximity to major airports, and access to quality health care.
—Travel + Leisure Editors, Travel + Leisure, 11 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for proximity
Cite this Entry
“Proximity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/proximity. Accessed 23 Mar. 2025.
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