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

He suggested there could be common ground, pointing to "historical injustices" surrounding the British Steel pension scheme, which he said his party would "like to help you sort out".

From BBC • Jun. 9, 2026

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

While there’s plenty of room for disagreement over immigration policy, conspiracy theories make it much harder to find common ground or craft political compromises.

From Salon • Jun. 4, 2026

"Leadership in the technology... will define the next decade of productivity and growth, so it's in everyone's interest that the two superpowers find common ground on sensible guardrails for AI."

From Barron's • May 13, 2026

Maybe these were two women who lived far enough off the beaten path that there was some strange common ground between them.

From "Moon Over Manifest" by Clare Vanderpool