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
Frank Cappelleri, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2025
And people have been sure to point it out, calling the video ‘insensitive’, taking into account the proximity and her casualness.
—Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 8 Oct. 2025
Given the country’s proximity to the equator, the paddock endures hot and humid conditions when the September race arrives.
—Madeline Coleman, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
China is currently conducting experiments high above the Earth, with the Shijian-21 and Shijian-25 satellites apparently conducting rendezvous and proximity operations (RPOs), docking and performing a first-ever refueling in geostationary orbit.
—Andrew Jones, Space.com, 7 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for proximity
Cite this Entry
“Proximity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/proximity. Accessed 10 Oct. 2025.
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proximity
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