vicinity

noun

vi·​cin·​i·​ty və-ˈsi-nə-tē 

plural vicinities

1

: a surrounding area or district : neighborhood

2

: neighborhood sense 3b

3

: the quality or state of being near : proximity

Did you know?

Howdy, neighbor! Today we cozy up to vicinity, a word with neighborly origins that was welcomed into English as a French import in the 16th century from Middle French vicinité. It comes ultimately from Latin vicus, meaning "row of houses" or "village," by way of Latin vicinus, meaning "neighboring." Other descendants of vicinus in English include vicinal (a synonym of local) and vicinage, a synonym of vicinity in the sense of "a neighboring or surrounding district." Both of these are formal and rare, but vicinage is notable for giving title to the Vicinage Clause, a segment of the Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution that entitles an accused person to "an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law."

Synonyms

• backyard
• environs
• neighborhood
• purlieus
• vicinage

Examples of vicinity in a Sentence

there are no hotels in the vicinity of the hospital

the vicinity of the town's only elementary school was one reason why the young couple bought the house

Recent Examples on the Web

Stadium ban: When serving a stadium ban, the manager cannot enter the ground their team is playing at on the matchday, use any facilities on the site, or position themselves in any vicinity that gives a direct view of the pitch. —Eduardo Tansley, The Athletic, 26 Feb. 2025

Wolves rub up against it and frolic in the vicinity. —Amanda Kooser, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2025

How did the world learn about Machu Picchu? Locals who lived in the immediate vicinity had known of the ruins’ existence for centuries, with many families even claiming ownership of parcels of land on the present-day site. —Hannah Edgar, ARTnews.com, 24 Feb. 2025

Investigators are reviewing surveillance footage of the shooting as well as taking statements from law enforcement involved and those in the vicinity, the district attorney said. —Karina Tsui, CNN, 23 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle French vicinité, from Latin vicinitat-, vicinitas, from vicinus neighboring, from vicus row of houses, village; akin to Goth weihs village, Old Church Slavic vĭsĭ, Greek oikos, oikia house

First Known Use

1560, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Phrases Containing vicinity

• in the vicinity of

Rhymes for vicinity

• affinity
• divinity
• infinity
• salinity
• virginity
• alkalinity
• consanguinity
• crystallinity
• femininity
• masculinity

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Kids Definition

vicinity

noun

vi·​cin·​i·​ty və-ˈsin-ət-ē 

plural vicinities

1

: a surrounding area or district

in the vicinity of her home

2

: an approximate amount, extent, or degree : neighborhood

walks in the vicinity of 20 miles a week