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

Under a new "social distancing" strategy, handshaking could be discouraged, with other, less tactile forms of greeting taking its place.

—Rosa Silverman

The 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

Examples of social distancing in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Jake Rosmarin, a guest aboard MV Hondius, said in a statement that passengers are generally in good spirits and that safety protocols such as social distancing and masking are in place. —Eve Chen, USA Today, 8 May 2026

Some people are bird-watching, and others are gathering in common areas to read or attend talks, while wearing masks and social distancing. —ABC News, 8 May 2026

Rosmarin said additional medical provisions and supplies were brought on board and that passengers were taking precautions like wearing masks and practicing social distancing. —Hira Humayun, CNN Money, 6 May 2026

But by December, as the holidays approached, the Clarks welcomed shoppers who, despite the rules requiring masks, gloves, social distancing and a plexiglass cover at the register up front, happily chose food and gifts to bring home. —Emily M. Olson, Hartford Courant, 3 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

2003, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

social distancing

noun

: the practice of maintaining a greater than usual physical distance (as six feet) from other people or of avoiding direct contact with people or objects in public places during the outbreak of a contagious disease