common ground

American  

noun

1. a foundation of common interest or comprehension, as in a social relationship or a discussion.

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common ground British  

noun

1. an agreed basis, accepted by both or all parties, for identifying issues in an argument

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common ground Idioms  

1. Shared beliefs or interests, a foundation for mutual understanding. For example, The European Union is struggling to find common ground for establishing a single currency. [1920s]

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Etymology

Origin of common ground

First recorded in 1925–30

Example Sentences

It seemed like a minor victory for our civic fabric that Gerber could disagree with the president so fundamentally yet find common ground over footwear.

From Slate • Jun. 5, 2026

He sent a separate memo to 60 Minutes staff, saying he made multiple attempts to have direct conversations with Pelley and could not find common ground.

From BBC • Jun. 3, 2026

Ministers gathered for a digital G7 meeting in Paris Friday, with host France expecting they will find common ground on online child protection but diverge over the environmental impact of computing.

From Barron's • May 29, 2026

Finding solid ground, not necessarily common ground, is the motivating mission of most space missions.

From Salon • May 5, 2026

He’d learned the hard way that if somebody was going to have your back in a fight, it was better if you found some common ground and trusted each other.

From "The House of Hades" by Rick Riordan