proximate

[ prok-suh-mit ]

adjective

1. next; nearest; immediately before or after in order, place, occurrence, etc.
2. close; very near.
3. approximate; fairly accurate.
4. forthcoming; imminent.

proximate

/ ˈprɒksɪmɪt /

adjective

1. next or nearest in space or time
2. very near; close
3. immediately preceding or following in a series
4. a less common word for approximate

Derived Forms

• ˈproximately, adverb
• ˌproxiˈmation, noun
• ˈproximateness, noun

Other Words From

• proxi·mate·ly adverb
• proxi·mate·ness noun
• prox·i·ma·tion [prok-s, uh, -, mey, -sh, uh, n], noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of proximate¹

1590–1600; < Late Latin proximātus, past participle of proximāre to near, approach. See proximal, -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of proximate¹

C16: from Late Latin proximāre to draw near, from Latin proximus next, from prope near

Example Sentences

A lot of research, and especially mainstream media, conflate the proximate cause of something with the underlying cause of it.

From Salon

It's understandable that people are focused on the proximate threat of Donald Trump, but the Trump administration, as you just said, was a clown show.

From Salon

The filing said the accident was a “direct and proximate” result of the Singaporean firms’ “carelessness, negligence, gross negligence, and recklessness, and as a result of the unseaworthiness of the vessel.”

From New York Times

Since the floods came on the heels of the massive Thomas fire in late 2017, that incident was deemed the “proximate cause” of the damage.

From Los Angeles Times

This level of lying to themselves is proximately about Trump, but really, it runs deeper than that.

From Salon