Phrase guide

personal space

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

The physical space closely surrounding a person, which can lead to discomfort, anger or anxiety if it is encroached.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Topics: human-sciences, psychology, sciences, social-science, sociology

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

An area which can be regarded as belonging to a person privately, in which to place belongings, etc.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

17 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 私人空間 /私人空间 (sīrén kōngjiān) — physical space closely surrounding a person
  • Finnish: henkilökohtainen tila — physical space closely surrounding a person
  • Finnish: henkilökohtainen alue — physical space closely surrounding a person
  • French: espace vital — physical space closely surrounding a person
  • Japanese: パーソナルスペース (pāsonaru supēsu) — physical space closely surrounding a person
  • Polish: przestrzeń osobista — physical space closely surrounding a person
  • Portuguese: espaço pessoal — physical space closely surrounding a person
  • Russian: личное простра́нство (ličnoje prostránstvo) — physical space closely surrounding a person
  • Russian: диста́нция (distáncija) — physical space closely surrounding a person
  • Chinese Mandarin: 私人空間 /私人空间 (sīrén kōngjiān) — area regarded as belonging to a person
  • Finnish: henkilökohtainen tila — area regarded as belonging to a person
  • Finnish: henkilökohtainen alue — area regarded as belonging to a person
  • Polish: przestrzeń osobista — area regarded as belonging to a person
  • Russian: личное простра́нство (ličnoje prostránstvo) — area regarded as belonging to a person
  • Russian: дом (dom) — area regarded as belonging to a person
  • Russian: жили́ще (žilíšče) — area regarded as belonging to a person
  • Russian: оча́г (očág) — area regarded as belonging to a person