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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
Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 24 Apr. 2026
Its proximity to the Downtown Manhattan Helipad—a 30 second ride in the Aston Martin—is fortuitous, since the typical Casa Cipriani guest is likely catching a 15-minute helicopter ride to JFK, or, if flying private, to Newark or Teterboro.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Apr. 2026
The vacation rental earned high marks for amenities like its coffee/tea maker, plus its proximity to nearby landmarks, according to its Vrbo listing.
—Tanasia Kenney, Charlotte Observer, 23 Apr. 2026
The East Lawn Cemetery was especially important due to its proximity to Cornell Orchards, which provides a large resource of blooming flowers in early spring.
—Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 23 Apr. 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 28 Apr. 2026.
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proximity
noun
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proximity
noun
