vicinity
vih-SIH-nih-tee
Vicinity (noun) means the surrounding area or nearby region. Example: “Is there a chemist anywhere in the vicinity of the station?”
noun
1
The surrounding area or nearby region.
"Is there a chemist anywhere in the vicinity of the station?"
"There are several good restaurants in the vicinity of the hotel."
"Police searched the vicinity for further evidence."
2
An approximate amount, size, or range.
"The coach holds something in the vicinity of fifty passengers."
"Her salary is somewhere in the vicinity of the national average."
"The renovation cost was in the vicinity of £20,000."
How to use vicinity
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe nearby area around a place, or roughly around a certain amount.
Common pairings
in the vicinity of
nearby vicinity
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Word forms
- Plural
- vicinities
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Is there a chemist anywhere in the _____ of the station?
Etymology
From Latin vicinitas, "neighborhood," from vicinus, "neighbor," ultimately from vicus, "village."
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for vicinity
See all rhymes for vicinity →Frequently asked questions
What does “vicinity” mean?
The word “vicinity” means the surrounding area or nearby region. In plain terms, the nearby area around a place, or roughly around a certain amount.
How do you pronounce “vicinity”?
“Vicinity” is pronounced vih-SIH-nih-tee (/vəˈsɪnəti/ in IPA).
How do you use “vicinity” in a sentence?
Here is “vicinity” used in a sentence: “There are several good restaurants in the vicinity of the hotel.”
What part of speech is “vicinity”?
“Vicinity” is a noun.
Where does the word “vicinity” come from?
The word “vicinity” comes from Latin. From Latin vicinitas, "neighborhood," from vicinus, "neighbor," ultimately from vicus, "village.".
Is “vicinity” a common word?
“Vicinity” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the C2 level.
How many meanings does “vicinity” have?
“Vicinity” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the surrounding area or nearby region.
What is the difference between 'vicinity' and 'area'?
'Vicinity' specifically emphasizes closeness or nearness to a particular point, while 'area' is a more general term for any region regardless of proximity. You would say something is 'in the vicinity of the station' to stress it is close by, whereas 'area' doesn't carry that same sense of nearness.
What does 'in the vicinity of' mean when used with numbers?
When paired with a number or amount, 'vicinity' means an approximate range rather than a location, as in 'a price in the vicinity of $50.' It signals that the figure is close to, but not exactly, the stated amount.
Is 'vicinity' a formal word?
'Vicinity' is somewhat more formal than everyday words like 'area' or 'neighborhood,' and it appears often in official, legal, or technical writing. It's still perfectly natural in general speech, just slightly more precise-sounding.
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