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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
Nc Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
27 June 2026
Some thought the building, which often flooded due to its proximity to the Des Plaines River, should be preserved as a historic landmark, but it was torn down in January 2018.
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Kori Rumore,
Chicago Tribune,
27 June 2026
What hasn’t changed, though, is Bedford’s incredible proximity to the Blue Ridge Parkway, its admiration of history, or its walkability.
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Lydia Mansel,
Travel + Leisure,
27 June 2026
Now, proximity to the headquarters is no longer an automatic indicator of seniority.
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Kevin Chan,
Forbes.com,
26 June 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 1 Jul. 2026.
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proximity
noun
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proximity
noun
