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
Boaz Sobrado, Forbes.com, 27 May 2025
When in a forest, stay in proximity to shorter tree groupings.
—Star-Telegram Weather Bot, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 May 2025
The cell tower’s close proximity has caused the most consternation, not just by local residents, but also by national experts.
—Laura Bauer, Kansas City Star, 26 May 2025
Similarly, Azerbaijani officials seem to assume that their country’s diplomatic proximity to Israel, and geographic proximity to Iran, will make Baku indispensable to long-term U.S. interests—regardless of who sits in the White House.
—Zaur Shiriyev, Foreign Affairs, 26 May 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 3 Jun. 2025.
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