physical distancing
- noun
- /ˈfɪzɪkəl ˈdɪstənsɪŋ/
- Literature
:
distanciamiento físico
- To reduce the risk of infection during the pandemic, we should practice physical distancing by staying at least six feet apart.
Examples
-
Actual physical distancing techniques may be the needed first step.
Academic text (1992) -
You know, it's physical distancing, but it's social leaning.
-
Many businesses are implementing physical distancing measures to ensure customer safety during their visits.
-
Healthcare officials emphasize the importance of physical distancing to protect vulnerable populations from illness.
Synonyms
1
4.1
Keeping more physical space between people and things
1
3.5
Keeping a safe distance from other people to avoid spreading disease
Antonyms
How Distant
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'maintaining a safe bodily space' is directly derivable from combining 'physical' (relating to the body/physical space) with 'distancing' (the act of creating distance). This is a straightforward compositional noun phrase that follows normal English compounding patterns and has clear equivalents in other languages, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would readily infer the MWE meaning.
Etymology
Physical distancing became common during the recent pandemic when health messages told people to keep space between their bodies. The word physical means body and distancing means making distance. So the phrase gives the image of people standing apart 'to avoid close contact' and means keeping a safe space to stop the spread of sickness.