proxemics

noun

prox·​e·​mics präk-ˈsē-miks How to pronounce proxemics (audio)
plural in form but singular or plural in construction
: the study of the nature, degree, and effect of the spatial separation individuals naturally maintain (as in various social and interpersonal situations) and of how this separation relates to environmental and cultural factors
proxemic adjective

Word History

Etymology

proximity + -emics (as in phonemics)

First Known Use

1963, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of proxemics was in 1963

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Proxemics.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/proxemics. Accessed 8 Sep. 2025.

Medical Definition

proxemics

noun, plural in form but singular or plural in construction
prox·​e·​mics präk-ˈsē-miks How to pronounce proxemics (audio)
: the study of the nature, degree, and effect of the spatial separation individuals naturally maintain (as in various social and interpersonal situations) and of how this separation relates to environmental and cultural factors
proxemic adjective

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