Meanings
nounzone of proximal development (plural zones of proximal development)
plural zones of proximal development
- human sciencesThe space between what a learner is capable of doing unsupported and what the learner cannot do even with support.
Origin
- Russianзо́на ближа́йшего разви́тия
- Englishzone of proximal development
Calque of Russian зо́на ближа́йшего разви́тия (zóna bližájševo razvítija), coined by Soviet psychologist and social constructivist Lev Vygotsky.
More words from Russian
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Finnish lähikehityksen vyöhyke
- lähikehityksen vyöhykeVygotsky's concept
French zone proximale de développement
- zone proximale de développementVygotsky's concept
Greek ζώνη επικείμενης ανάπτυξης
- ζώνη επικείμενης ανάπτυξης (zóni epikeímenis anáptyxis)Vygotsky's concept
Icelandic svæði hins mögulega þroska
- svæði hins mögulega þroskaVygotsky's concept
Polish strefa najbliższego rozwoju
- strefa najbliższego rozwojuVygotsky's concept
Russian зо́на ближа́йшего разви́тия
- зо́на ближа́йшего разви́тия (zóna bližájševo razvítija)Vygotsky's concept
Spanish zona de desarrollo próximo, zona de desarrollo proximal
- zona de desarrollo próximoVygotsky's concept
- zona de desarrollo proximalVygotsky's concept
Turkish proksimal gelişim alanı, yakınsak gelişim alanı
- proksimal gelişim alanıVygotsky's concept
- yakınsak gelişim alanıVygotsky's concept
Cite this entry
APA
zone of proximal development. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/zone%20of%20proximal%20development
MLA
“zone of proximal development.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/zone%20of%20proximal%20development. Accessed November 4, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “zone of proximal development,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/zone%20of%20proximal%20development.
Source: zone of proximal development on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.