English Reference
Noun

proximity

n. uncountable
C1 Advanced US /pɹɑkˈsɪməti/ UK /pɹɒksˈɪmɪti/ prox·im·i·ty UK spelling proximities

n.how close something is to something else in space or time. You use this when talking about being near a place or a person.

n.the state of being near in space, time, or relationship. Often used in formal or technical contexts to describe physical distance.


SIMPLE

The house is in close proximity to the school.

CONTEXTUAL

The hotel's proximity to the train station makes it a popular choice for business travelers.

COMPLEX

Urban planners often emphasize the importance of proximity to green spaces, as easy access to nature significantly improves the mental health of city residents.

Usage

Commonly used in the phrase 'in close proximity to'; avoid using 'near to' immediately after 'proximity' as it is redundant.

Pitfall
the proximity of the station to herethe proximity of the station

Proximity already implies closeness; adding 'to here' or 'near' is often redundant in general descriptions.

Usage close proximity · temporal proximity

Still, despite their long proximity to humans, the dolphin-like marine mammals have been very good at keeping much of their behavior secret.

Smithsonian Magazine· 14 Aug 2026

Parenthood shifts urban mobility toward proximity to schools and health care, often increasing work-commute costs.

Phys.org· 13 Aug 2026

Common in science writing


From proxim(ate) + -ity, from Middle French proximité, from Latin proximitās, proximitāt-, from proximus.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Frequent
Updated