proportional spacing

[prə′pȯr·shən·əl ′spās·iŋ] (graphic arts) Spacing in which each character occupies space according to its width.

proportional spacing

Alphabetic character spacing based on the width of each letter in a font. For example, an I takes up less horizontal space than an M. Proportional spacing is commonly used for almost all text. In this encyclopedia, the default text is a proportional typeface, and tables are "monospaced," in which all characters have the same fixed width. See kerning.

Proportional vs. Monospaced

In proportional spacing, the I takes up less horizontal space than the M as in the word "immersive." Note the white space before and after the I in the monospaced letters "siv."