---
title: Proximity Search: Definition and How It Works | Aavenir
url: https://aavenir.com/glossary/proximity-search/
description: Proximity search finds contracts or clauses where chosen words or phrases appear close together, which makes results more precise than a plain keyword search.
updated: 2026-11-07
---

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# What is proximity search?

Proximity search finds contracts or clauses where chosen words or phrases appear close together, which makes results more precise than a plain keyword search.

## How proximity search works

A user sets two or more terms and a maximum distance between them, for example "termination" within ten words of "convenience". The search returns only contracts where the terms appear that close together. Words near each other are usually about the same thing, so the results are far more relevant than documents that merely mention both words somewhere.

## Where it helps in contract work

- Finding termination for convenience rights across a portfolio.

- Locating liability caps tied to a particular kind of damage.

- Spotting auto renewal language near a notice period.

- Checking data protection terms that mention a particular regulation.

## Why it matters

A plain keyword search on a large contract repository returns far too many hits to read. Proximity search narrows them to the clauses that matter, which speeds up contract analysis, risk reviews and compliance checks.

## How Aavenir handles it

[AI contract search](https://aavenir.com/platform/ai-contract-search/) in Contractflow finds clauses by meaning as well as by words near each other, and [Aavenir Atlas](https://aavenir.com/solutions/ai-contract-intelligence/) answers plain language questions across the whole portfolio, with links back to the source text.

## Keep reading

[Cognitive search Cognitive search uses AI to understand what a question means, so contract search returns answers, not just keyword hits. Read more](https://aavenir.com/glossary/cognitive-search/)[Contract attachments Contract attachments are the exhibits, schedules and appendices that sit with a contract and carry its detail. Read more](https://aavenir.com/glossary/contract-attachments/)[Contract lifecycle management Contract lifecycle management is the process and software for running contracts from request to renewal. Read more](https://aavenir.com/glossary/contract-lifecycle-management/)

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

## Common questions

###

### How is proximity search different from keyword search?

Keyword search returns any document containing the words. Proximity search requires them to appear within a set distance of each other, which signals they are about the same point and cuts irrelevant results. [Read about cognitive search](https://aavenir.com/glossary/cognitive-search/).

###

### What is proximity search used for in contract management?

Finding specific clauses across many contracts, such as termination rights, liability caps or renewal terms, for risk reviews, audits, regulatory changes and due diligence. [See AI contract search](https://aavenir.com/platform/ai-contract-search/).

###

### Does proximity search work on scanned contracts?

Only once the text has been extracted. Scanned documents need optical character recognition first, after which the extracted text can be searched like any other contract. [Read about contract abstraction](https://aavenir.com/glossary/contract-abstraction/).

Have a question we have not answered? [Ask the Expert](https://aavenir.com/contact/)

Schedule a demo

## See your contracts run on one record.

- **1****A 30 minute walkthrough**Built around your team, whether that is procurement, legal, IT or finance.

- **2****Your contracts, not ours**Bring a few sample agreements and watch Aavenir AI extract and review them.

- **3****ServiceNow or standalone**We show the deployment that fits the systems you already run.

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