social distancing

[ soh-shuhl dis-tuhn-sing ]

noun

1. the practice of maintaining a safe or appropriate physical distance from other people, or the measures taken to reduce close physical contact, especially to slow the spread of a contagious illness or disease:

   Health officials are recommending some kinds of social distancing, such as working from home and avoiding handshakes.

Other Words From

• so·cial dis·tance so·cial-dis·tance verb (used with or without object) social distanced or socialdistanced social distancing or socialdistancing

Word History and Origins

Origin of social distancing¹

First recorded in 2000–05