Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Showing results for Proxima Centauri. Search instead for Proximate+Cause.

Proxima Centauri

American  
[prok-suh-muh] / ˈprɒk sə mə /

noun

  1. the nearest star to the sun at a distance of 4.3 light-years, part of the Alpha Centauri triple-star system located in the constellation Centaurus.


Proxima Centauri Scientific  
/ prŏksə-məsĕn-tôrē /
  1. See under Alpha Centauri


Etymology

Origin of Proxima Centauri

< New Latin: nearest (star) of Centaurus

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The closest star, Proxima Centauri, is marked at the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles to reflect its true distance.

From BBC • Jun. 7, 2026

Imagine, he says, wanting to send a single paperclip to our neighboring star, Proxima Centauri.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 9, 2026

The closest red dwarf to us is Proxima Centauri.

From Space Scoop • Nov. 28, 2025

Of the two, findings show that only for Proxima Centauri b would the machines be able to detect carbon dioxide if it were present.

From Science Daily • Jan. 29, 2024

On the same scale, Proxima Centauri, our nearest star, would be almost ten thousand miles away.

From "A Short History of Nearly Everything" by Bill Bryson

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Look it up. Learn it forever.

Remember "Proxima Centauri" for good with VocabTrainer. Expand your vocabulary effortlessly with personalized learning tools that adapt to your goals.

Take me to Vocabulary.com