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
Beren Cross, New York Times, 20 Mar. 2026
Homelessness is a subject that cuts to the core of Mamdani’s vision of a New York where safety and inclusivity are not in conflict, where the quality of life in the city is improved and not diminished by one’s proximity to fellow New Yorkers.
—Molly Fischer, New Yorker, 20 Mar. 2026
In any case, its proximity is ideal for those looking for quick and easy access to nature.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 Mar. 2026
That proximity to the city also means access to Atlanta museums such as the Museum of Contemporary Art of Georgia and the High Museum of Art—the Southeast’s largest museum for visual art and home to architecture by both Richard Meier and Renzo Piano.
—Amelia Mularz, Architectural Digest, 17 Mar. 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 20 Mar. 2026.
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proximity
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