personal space

noun

: the distance from another person at which one feels comfortable when talking to or being next to that other person
You are invading my personal space.

Examples of personal space in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Each half-hour episode transforms a room or personal space to better serve people who dedicate their lives to helping others. — Tanya Fedak, Variety, 22 Oct. 2026 By tonight, the Moon enters Aquarius and home or personal space becomes more appealing. — Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 Oct. 2026 In March, Rubin ordered that detainees in the holding rooms have at least 31 square feet of personal space. — CBS News, 6 Oct. 2026 That creates an inherent tension with norms around privacy and personal space. — Sebastian Herrera, Fortune, 24 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for personal space

Rhymes for personal space

See All Rhymes for personal space

Browse Nearby Words

personal shopper
personal space
personal staff
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Personal space.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/personal%20space. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of milieu

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
different halloween monsters in silhouette
A Monstrous Vocab Quiz Words That Go Bump in the Night
See All