contiguity
Americannoun
plural
contiguities-
the state of being contiguous; contact or proximity.
-
a series of things in continuous connection; a continuous mass or extent.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of contiguity
From the Late Latin word contiguitās, dating back to 1635–45. See contiguous, -ity
Explanation
Use the noun contiguity when you're talking about the state of things being right up next to each other, like the contiguity of two countries that share a border. You're most likely to come across the word contiguity in a discussion of geography. For example, you could talk about the contiguity of the United States and its northern neighbor, Canada, or the contiguity of New Hampshire and Vermont. Contiguity shares a root with the more common contiguous, the Latin contingere, which means "to touch upon."
Vocabulary lists containing contiguity
The Scarlet Letter
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
The Return of the Native
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
The House of the Seven Gables
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
Those principles include compactness, contiguity and the preservation of political subdivisions, including cities and counties, and “communities of interest” that have geography, culture or an economic sector in common.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 6, 2026
What is vital about the peasant kitchen is its sense of contiguity.
From Slate • Mar. 15, 2025
"They also don't just associate that word with an object based on temporal contiguity without really understanding the meaning of those words, but they activate a memory of an object when they hear its name."
From Science Daily • Mar. 22, 2024
“Since the distance between town and island is slight, we do not think the failure of the legislative plan to achieve literal contiguity a serious demerit,” the judges wrote in 1992.
From Seattle Times • Aug. 12, 2023
The mere contiguity of a great variety of human creatures is itself a lesson in the real values of life.
From Masterman and Son by Dawson, W. J. (William James)
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
