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

Example Sentences

Hancock, who resigned from the health role in June 2021 after breaching social distancing guidance by kissing a colleague and did not stand for re-election at last year's election, is also yet to respond to the report.

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The report also said lockdown may have been avoided if voluntary steps such as social distancing and isolating those with symptoms along with household members had been brought in earlier than 16 March 2020.

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The report says lockdown could have been avoided if steps such as social distancing and isolating those with symptoms along with members of their household had been introduced earlier than mid-March 2020.

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Social distancing made for an eerie feeling inside a sparsely populated Hampden Park.

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The early stretch of the COVID-19 pandemic saw no shortage of Angelenos who began creative projects to stay inspired and productive amid work slowdowns and social distancing.

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