social distancing
noun
medical
: the practice of maintaining a greater than usual physical distance (such as six feet or more) from other people or of avoiding direct contact with people or objects in public places during the outbreak of a contagious disease in order to minimize exposure and reduce the transmission of infection : physical distancing
San Francisco issued recommendations for social distancing on Friday, advising residents to stay home as much as possible and avoid congregating in large groups.—
Taryn Luna and Melody Gutierrez
Taryn Luna and Melody GutierrezUnder a new "social distancing" strategy, handshaking could be discouraged, with other, less tactile forms of greeting taking its place.—Rosa Silverman
Rosa SilvermanThe term social distancing may be foreign to some, but the concept is one often practiced during the flu season, said Dora Anne Mills, the state's former top health official and currently chief health improvement officer for MaineHealth.—Gillian Graham
Gillian GrahamExamples of social distancing in a Sentence
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Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY.
—Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 6 Apr. 2025
In the months that followed, passengers slowly returned to once-empty airports, navigating social distancing, masks mandates, and staffing shortages.
—Felicia Faber, FOXNews.com, 4 Apr. 2025
Chicago’s Robert Morris University became the first in the nation to offer competitive e-gamers scholarships in 2015, and when the pandemic made social distancing the order of the day, their popularity exploded.
—Blythe Lawrence, Forbes.com, 2 Apr. 2025
Despite the majority of Americans noting specific negative impacts, overall adults still believe the work from home order and social distancing were the right decision, according to the report.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 1 Apr. 2025
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Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 6 Apr. 2025
In the months that followed, passengers slowly returned to once-empty airports, navigating social distancing, masks mandates, and staffing shortages.
—Felicia Faber, FOXNews.com, 4 Apr. 2025
Chicago’s Robert Morris University became the first in the nation to offer competitive e-gamers scholarships in 2015, and when the pandemic made social distancing the order of the day, their popularity exploded.
—Blythe Lawrence, Forbes.com, 2 Apr. 2025
Despite the majority of Americans noting specific negative impacts, overall adults still believe the work from home order and social distancing were the right decision, according to the report.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 1 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for social distancing
Cite this Entry
“Social distancing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/social%20distancing. Accessed 7 May. 2025.
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