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
Senior Television, Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2026
Maybe living in the heart of the imperialist beast could afford a modicum of protection and safety through proximity to whiteness.
—Literary Hub, 19 Feb. 2026
But investors begin to grow wary with Iran, due to its proximity to the key chokepoint for the global market.
—John Towfighi, CNN Money, 19 Feb. 2026
Many Bears players and staff members live within close proximity to the Lake Forest facility, and the team in December said that despite the ongoing stadium discussions, the Bears’ Halas Hall headquarters would remain in Lake Forest.
—Robert McCoppin, Chicago Tribune, 19 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for proximity
Cite this Entry
“Proximity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/proximity. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.
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