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 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
Samantha BeattieExamples of physical distance in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In that moment, the two of them broke down on the phone, the physical distance between them collapsed by grief.
—Sarah Zhang, The Atlantic, 7 Mar. 2024
The physical distance from Huwara is short, but the leap from one world to another is large.
—Roger Cohen, New York Times, 31 Jan. 2024
Jakub’s pregnant wife back home, Lenka (Carey Mulligan), doesn’t know, and hasn’t for some time, even before physical distance widened the chasm between them.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Feb. 2024
These interactions allow individuals to express themselves, share personal experiences, alleviate feelings of loneliness and create bonds that transcend physical distance.
—Mark Travers, Forbes, 18 Feb. 2024
Countries that were geopolitically aligned traded over 6% more with each other, regardless of their physical distance, UNCTAD found.
—Peter Vanham, Fortune, 20 Dec. 2023
Their widespread use democratized remote work, breaking down the barriers that were previously posed by physical distance.
—Gleb Tsipursky, Fortune, 3 Jan. 2024
Managers must prioritize open lines of communication, making sure that their team feels connected, despite physical distances.
—Nathan Green, Rolling Stone, 4 Jan. 2024
Israel is a small country, the physical distances manageable.
—Matthew Hennessey, WSJ, 26 Nov. 2023
Sarah Zhang, The Atlantic, 7 Mar. 2024
The physical distance from Huwara is short, but the leap from one world to another is large.
—Roger Cohen, New York Times, 31 Jan. 2024
Jakub’s pregnant wife back home, Lenka (Carey Mulligan), doesn’t know, and hasn’t for some time, even before physical distance widened the chasm between them.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Feb. 2024
These interactions allow individuals to express themselves, share personal experiences, alleviate feelings of loneliness and create bonds that transcend physical distance.
—Mark Travers, Forbes, 18 Feb. 2024
Countries that were geopolitically aligned traded over 6% more with each other, regardless of their physical distance, UNCTAD found.
—Peter Vanham, Fortune, 20 Dec. 2023
Their widespread use democratized remote work, breaking down the barriers that were previously posed by physical distance.
—Gleb Tsipursky, Fortune, 3 Jan. 2024
Managers must prioritize open lines of communication, making sure that their team feels connected, despite physical distances.
—Nathan Green, Rolling Stone, 4 Jan. 2024
Israel is a small country, the physical distances manageable.
—Matthew Hennessey, WSJ, 26 Nov. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'physical distance.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Physical distance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/physical%20distance. Accessed 24 Apr. 2024.
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