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
Jason Henry, Oc Register, 30 May 2026
The gravitational effects of the two galaxies’ proximity are already being observed.
—Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 30 May 2026
For the United States, due to its proximity to Russia and Iran ties it directly to long-term geopolitical competition and the future architecture of Eurasian connectivity.
—Wesley Alexander Hill, Forbes.com, 30 May 2026
When in a forest, stay in proximity to shorter tree groupings.
—Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 30 May 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 4 Jun. 2026.
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