Did you know?
You're So Close to Learning More About Proximity
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
Spencer Elliott, Forbes.com, 6 June 2026
Unlike many modern proximity fuzes that rely on radar, laser, infrared, or other sophisticated electronic sensors, L3Harris specifically describes this product as a mechanical proximity fuze.
—Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 6 June 2026
Despite its proximity to the rocking scene in St-Tropez, six miles away, this discreet little oasis feels a world away from the high-octane glitz.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 June 2026
The petition also raised concerns about the store's proximity to nearby schools, claiming that dollar stores are associated with higher crime rates.
—Terrance Friday, CBS News, 4 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 11 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
proximity
noun
Legal Definition
proximity
noun
