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

In fact, every step has been fiercely contested — particularly the parklets, which many Bay Area cities quickly abandoned after they were born out of necessity in a pandemic era of social distancing and outdoor dining. —Kate Bradshaw, Mercury News, 9 June 2026

The latest outbreak, driven by the rare Bundibugyo strain, has infected at least 515 people and killed 91, prompting strict limits on public gatherings and enforced social distancing. —Justin Kabumba, Los Angeles Times, 8 June 2026

Like a lot of restaurateurs, Frank Bonanno introduced service fees during the pandemic as a way to keep paying employees of his fine-dining restaurants Mizuna, Luca and Osteria Marco, who were earning less while social distancing rules were in effect. —Miguel Otárola, Denver Post, 18 May 2026

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

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