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 Word Forms

• social distance verb (used with or without object)
• social-distance verb (used with or without object)

Word History and Origins

Origin of social distancing¹

First recorded in 2000–05