social distancing

American  

[soh-shuhl dis-tuhn-sing] / ˈsoʊ ʃəl ˈdɪs tən sɪŋ /

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.

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Other Word Forms

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

Etymology

Origin of social distancing

First recorded in 2000–05

Example Sentences

During previous outbreaks, the hospital relied on robust donor funding and a team of social workers to educate the community about preventive measures, ranging from social distancing to safe burials.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 24, 2026

When they reopened, many individual courtrooms could not be used for trials because they were too small to comply with social distancing requirements.

From BBC • Dec. 18, 2025

Jerry furloughed all his employees and shut down for three months, until the theater was allowed to reopen with strict social distancing rules in place.

From Salon • Dec. 18, 2025

Cremer explains, "Adult ants that approach death leave the nest to die outside the colony. Similarly, workers that have been exposed to fungal spores practice social distancing."

From Science Daily • Dec. 3, 2025

That Shelton died at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic made for an additionally cruel and difficult time for Maron, who was unable to share his pain with many others as social distancing took over.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 3, 2025