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
Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 20 June 2025
They are ordered most likely to least likely based on their proximity to the center of the auroral oval and how much of each state is within or near the view line.
—Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 19 June 2025
Credit its appeal to white-sand beaches, emerald waters, and proximity to Big Lagoon State Park, Perdido Key State Park, and Johnson's Beach.
—Kara Franker, Southern Living, 19 June 2025
The result was a larger Walgreens store footprint—but one with tons of overlap, given the proximity of many Rite Aids to nearby Walgreens.
—Phil Wahba, Fortune, 17 June 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 28 Jun. 2025.
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proximity
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