proximity
noun
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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
Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 22 Oct. 2025
Norfolk Southern continues to use the rail for freight, but Mooresville’s affordability and proximity to both Charlotte and Lake Norman is spurring big growth.
—Charlotte Observer, 22 Oct. 2025
Lawyers want their client at FCI Fort Dix, in New Jersey, due to its proximity to family/friends in New York and its in-house drug treatment plans.
—Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 22 Oct. 2025
Ansari had performed at the Riyadh Comedy Festival in Saudi Arabia, a move that drew scrutiny due to the kingdom's record on human rights and the proximity of the festival to the anniversary of journalist Jamal Khashoggi's murder.
—Megan Cartwright, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 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 24 Oct. 2025.
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proximity
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proximity
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