What does "vicinity" mean?

1. (surrounding area) the area near or around a particular place. 2. (approximate amount) an amount that is close to a specific number but not exact.

How do you use "vicinity"?

Usually appears in the phrase 'in the vicinity of'. Almost exclusively used in the prepositional phrase 'in the vicinity of' followed by a number or value.

vicinity

US //vəˈsɪnəti// UK //vɪsˈɪnɪti// vicin·i·ty

1 surrounding area (n.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

the area near or around a particular place.

the area or region near or surrounding a particular place; often used with the preposition 'of'.

Example

There are several good restaurants in the vicinity of the hotel.

Example

The police searched the immediate vicinity of the crime scene for any discarded evidence that might lead to a suspect.

Usage

Usually appears in the phrase 'in the vicinity of'.
- distance
- remoteness
2 approximate amount (n.)
C1 Advanced Formal

an amount that is close to a specific number but not exact.

an approximate amount, value, or quantity; typically used in the formal phrase 'in the vicinity of'.

Example

The new car will cost somewhere in the vicinity of thirty thousand dollars.

Example

The total cost of the renovation project is estimated to be in the vicinity of half a million pounds, depending on material costs.

Usage

Almost exclusively used in the prepositional phrase 'in the vicinity of' followed by a number or value.

Origin

From vicine + -ity, from Latin vīcīnitās (“neighborhood”) (compare French vicinité), from vīcīnus (“neighbor”) (compare French voisin), from vīcus (“village”).