vicinity

noun

vi·​cin·​i·​ty və-ˈsi-nə-tē 

plural vicinities

1

: a surrounding area or district : neighborhood

2

: neighborhood sense 3b

3

: the quality or state of being near : proximity

Did you know?

Howdy, neighbor! Today we cozy up to vicinity, a word with neighborly origins that was welcomed into English as a French import in the 16th century from Middle French vicinité. It comes ultimately from Latin vicus, meaning "row of houses" or "village," by way of Latin vicinus, meaning "neighboring." Other descendants of vicinus in English include vicinal (a synonym of local) and vicinage, a synonym of vicinity in the sense of "a neighboring or surrounding district." Both of these are formal and rare, but vicinage is notable for giving title to the Vicinage Clause, a segment of the Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution that entitles an accused person to "an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law."

Synonyms of vicinity

• neighborhood
• backyard
• environs

Examples of vicinity in a Sentence

there are no hotels in the vicinity of the hospital

the vicinity of the town's only elementary school was one reason why the young couple bought the house

Recent Examples on the Web

Maritime climate and the vicinity of water provide optimum conditions for growing tulips that number in the billions each year. —Daily News, 20 Mar. 2026

This work revealed bullet-like outflows blasting from the black hole's vicinity at speeds up to around 14% the speed of light. —Robert Lea, Space.com, 17 Mar. 2026

Helicopters or attack aircraft would have to fly in the vicinity, ready to take on air or sea drones, said analyst Carl Schuster, a former US Navy captain. —Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 16 Mar. 2026

There’s a lot to enjoy in the immediate vicinity, but the L, J, and G trains will quickly transport you to even more vibrant dining destinations. —Wilder Davies, Bon Appetit Magazine, 14 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle French vicinité, from Latin vicinitat-, vicinitas, from vicinus neighboring, from vicus row of houses, village; akin to Goth weihs village, Old Church Slavic vĭsĭ, Greek oikos, oikia house

First Known Use

1560, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Phrases Containing vicinity

• in the vicinity of

Rhymes for vicinity

• affinity
• divinity
• infinity
• salinity
• virginity
• alkalinity
• consanguinity
• crystallinity
• femininity
• masculinity

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Kids Definition

vicinity

noun

vi·​cin·​i·​ty və-ˈsin-ət-ē 

plural vicinities

1

: a surrounding area or district

in the vicinity of her home

2

: an approximate amount, extent, or degree : neighborhood

walks in the vicinity of 20 miles a week