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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
Paris Barraza, USA Today, 24 May 2026
Thomas has lived less than a mile from GKN Aerospace for about six years and had never given much thought to their proximity.
—Eric Licas, Los Angeles Times, 23 May 2026
Today, with casino gambling expanding closer to home for New Yorkers, including the 2026 debut of Resorts World New York City in Queens, Atlantic City no longer wins on proximity alone, which is why its legacy deserves to be taken more seriously.
—Jessica Chapel, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 May 2026
And lifestyle factors, like proximity to family or community ties, can be just as important as financial ones.
—Bruce Helmer, Twin Cities, 23 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 25 May. 2026.
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proximity
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proximity
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