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
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 May 2026
While the price hasn’t been disclosed, the neighborhood is known for its modern architecture, upscale residences, and close proximity to the city’s financial hub.
—Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 1 May 2026
Pacifica is also part of a larger regional economy, with proximity to San Francisco and Silicon Valley.
—Sooji Nam, CBS News, 1 May 2026
Baltimore is a good alternative to New York, Cicinato said, since the proximity to popular warm-weather destinations means one less sea day.
—Nathan Diller, USA Today, 1 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 4 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
proximity
noun
Legal Definition
proximity
noun
