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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.

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

The closest Earth-like exoplanet to us -- and possibly the most famous -- is Proxima Centauri b, which is only 4 light-years away.

From Science Daily • May 23, 2024

The closest star system to our own is Proxima Centauri, which famously hosts the exoplanet Proxima b.

From Salon • Feb. 16, 2023

Even if I traveled for trillions of miles, I’d barely reach Proxima Centauri, the next closest star after the sun.

From "Sir Fig Newton and the Science of Persistence" by Sonja Thomas

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