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Glite Dictionary
social distancing

social distancing

1 3.5
Keeping a safe distance from other people to avoid spreading disease
  • noun
  • /ˈsoʊʃəl ˈdɪstənsɪŋ/
  • Neologism
translation icon : distanciamiento social
  • Directives for social distancing call upon parents to keep their children away from other children if schools or day-care centers close.
  • engage in social distancing
  • difficulty in social distancing
  • greater difficulty in social distancing

So this social distancing, I mean, it's hard enough.

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Examples

  • But right now, our best defense has been social distancing.

    Contagion (2011)

  • Please keep safe, wash your hands, practice social distancing and love on one another.

    Hannah Kathleen

  • But you guys are doing your part and in society by social distancing and staying home.

    Evan Carmichael

  • So this social distancing, I mean, it's hard enough.

    Theo Von

  • Now while social distancing is working, we know the worst is yet to come.

  • Stay at home if you can, use social distancing and wash your hands.

  • We are all observing our social distancing, so we're trying out something new.

  • Obviously washing your hands and social distancing as much as you can.

    Laura Lee

  • Social distancing works and you need social distancing everywhere.

  • Practicing social distancing helps reduce the spread of viruses during a pandemic.

Synonyms

isolation
vssocial distancing
172 3.7

A state of being alone and cut off from other people physically or emotionally

is an active public health practice to reduce infections rather than a general state
seclusion
vssocial distancing
22 6.5

A state of being private and away from other people

is aimed at disease prevention through distance rather than personal privacy or hiding
physical distancing
vssocial distancing
  • Literature
3.7

Keeping space between people to avoid spreading illness

is wider, also stressing avoiding large gatherings as part of prevention

Antonyms

sociality
1 7.9

A tendency to live and form groups with other animals or people

How Distant

isolation
172 3.7
quarantine
82 5.3
social distancing
  • Neologism
1 3.5
contact
826 1.2

Surface Forms

social distancing singular
social distancings plural

Morphology

social + distancing

The meaning is directly derivable from 'social' (relating to people or society) + 'distancing' (creating or maintaining distance), so a learner who knows both words can infer it refers to keeping physical space from others. The construction is productive and mirrored in many languages (e.g. Spanish 'distanciamiento social'), making the concept easily accessible to B1 learners.

Etymology

Social distancing became a common phrase during recent outbreaks and gives a clear picture: people keeping their distance in shops, buses, and schools so they do not pass germs to each other. That's why it means 'keeping a safe physical distance to stop illness from spreading'.