proximity

/prɑkˈsɪmədi/

/prɒkˈsɪmɪti/

Other forms: proximities

The word proximity means nearness or closeness. "Because of the proximity of our desks, I couldn't help but notice him cheating on the exam."

Your favorite thing about your neighborhood of attached row houses might be the proximity of your neighbors — they're really close to you. Proximity comes from the Latin proximus, "nearest," which also gives us approximate, "close to the actual." You can use this noun to talk about a physical closeness, or something that's near in time, like the proximity of the months April and May.

Definitions of proximity

1. noun

   the property of being close together
   synonyms: propinquity

   type of:

   closeness, nearness

   the spatial property resulting from a relatively small distance
2. noun

   the region close around a person or thing
   types:

   front, presence

   the immediate proximity of someone or something

   type of:

   locality, neck of the woods, neighborhood, neighbourhood, vicinity

   a surrounding or nearby region
3. noun

   a Gestalt principle of organization holding that (other things being equal) objects or events that are near to one another (in space or time) are perceived as belonging together as a unit
   synonyms: law of proximity

   type of:

   Gestalt law of organization, Gestalt principle of organization

   a principle of Gestalt psychology that identifies factors leading to particular forms of perceptual organization