social distancing
noun
medical
: the practice of maintaining a greater than usual physical distance (such as six feet or more) from other people or of avoiding direct contact with people or objects in public places during the outbreak of a contagious disease in order to minimize exposure and reduce the transmission of infection : physical distancing
San Francisco issued recommendations for social distancing on Friday, advising residents to stay home as much as possible and avoid congregating in large groups.—
Taryn Luna and Melody Gutierrez
Taryn Luna and Melody GutierrezUnder a new "social distancing" strategy, handshaking could be discouraged, with other, less tactile forms of greeting taking its place.—Rosa Silverman
Rosa SilvermanThe term social distancing may be foreign to some, but the concept is one often practiced during the flu season, said Dora Anne Mills, the state's former top health official and currently chief health improvement officer for MaineHealth.—Gillian Graham
Gillian GrahamExamples of social distancing in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Many such steps turned out to be effective, including social distancing and, yes, mask-wearing.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 5 June 2025
This may have been a result of limited social contact due to social distancing, masking, school closures and lockdown measures, which reduced the spread of disease overall.
—Annette Regan, The Conversation, 29 Apr. 2025
In recent conversations with Hasidic Jewish leaders, Cuomo allegedly expressed regret for calling out the Hasidic community and their compliance with social distancing enforcement during the pandemic, according to The Forward, a news organization targeted toward an American Jewish audience.
—Solcyré Burga, Time, 24 June 2025
Co-author of the Great Barrington Declaration, which espoused allowing younger and healthier members of society develop natural immunity without lockdowns or social distancing.
—Livi Stanford, Hartford Courant, 13 June 2025
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Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 5 June 2025
This may have been a result of limited social contact due to social distancing, masking, school closures and lockdown measures, which reduced the spread of disease overall.
—Annette Regan, The Conversation, 29 Apr. 2025
In recent conversations with Hasidic Jewish leaders, Cuomo allegedly expressed regret for calling out the Hasidic community and their compliance with social distancing enforcement during the pandemic, according to The Forward, a news organization targeted toward an American Jewish audience.
—Solcyré Burga, Time, 24 June 2025
Co-author of the Great Barrington Declaration, which espoused allowing younger and healthier members of society develop natural immunity without lockdowns or social distancing.
—Livi Stanford, Hartford Courant, 13 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for social distancing
Cite this Entry
“Social distancing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/social%20distancing. Accessed 22 Jul. 2025.
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