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
Hollie Silverman, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Nov. 2025
The 187-key property overlooks the waterfront of Grand Canal Square and is in convenient proximity to destinations like the National Museum and the 3Arena, plus plenty of emerging restaurants.
—Liam Hess, Vogue, 26 Nov. 2025
Columbus said the proximity of Lost in New York to the original movie justified its existence as a sequel.
—Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Nov. 2025
Guests looking to visit XS Nightclub, Encore Beach Club, or the hotel’s poker rooms will also appreciate the proximity to these amenities.
—David Morris, Travel + Leisure, 25 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for proximity
Cite this Entry
“Proximity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/proximity. Accessed 3 Dec. 2025.
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