propinquity

American  

[proh-ping-kwi-tee] / proʊˈpɪŋ kwɪ ti /

noun

1. nearness in place; proximity.

2. nearness of relation; kinship.

3. affinity of nature; similarity.

4. nearness in time.

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propinquity British  

/ prəˈpɪŋkwɪtɪ /

noun

1. nearness in place or time

2. nearness in relationship

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Etymology

Origin of propinquity

First recorded in 1400–1450; Middle English, from Old French propinquite, from Latin propinquitās “nearness,” equivalent to propinqu(us) “near, nearby,” from prop(e) “near” + -inquus adjective suffix) + -itās -ity; see pro-

Explanation

Ah propinquity, a word meaning "proximity or physical closeness." Your propinquity to someone in a conversation will affect whether you can smell his breath or not. Propinquity had a brief moment in the sun on a television show in the 1950s called Dobie Gillis. There was an episode in which the nerdy girl, who was in love with Dobie Gillis, decided to get him to love her back. How? Propinquity! And so she explained it to him, over and over and over, theorizing that just being near someone long enough would tip them over the edge into love. Sadly for her, it didn’t work, but everyone who has ever seen or heard of the episode has the meaning of propinquity burned into their brain.

Example Sentences

The explanation for their propinquity lies not in the creation of some whiz-bang, life-changing, paradigm-bending consumer product, or the shining virtues or particularly fertile minds that grace Silicon Valley’s fruited plain.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 26, 2025

As well as reflecting on the shocking propinquity of life and death, Donne is tormented by his isolation, as a patient:

From The Guardian • Dec. 4, 2017

To borrow the title of Scott Eyman’s smart, generous chronicle, they became “Hank & Jim,” a pair of guys who asked nothing of each other but propinquity.

From Washington Post • Nov. 17, 2017

But Ms. Bradshaw’s propinquity to Mr. Bush, and the power she wields as a result of it, has also attracted a fair share of hard feelings.

From New York Times • Feb. 4, 2015

But then the stranger had died immediately afterwards, under mysterious circumstances, and had this not befallen why then he, John Seward Mervyn would never have become aware of the existence or propinquity of his niece.

From The Heath Hover Mystery by Mitford, Bertram