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

See Examples For:

common ground

Soon the two couples are intertwined, each looking to find some common ground.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 18, 2026

“There is a common ground in humanity, and I’m looking for that common ground.”

From Salon ● Sep. 17, 2026

While diplomatic gaps remain, Abuja has found common ground with Washington in increasing military cooperation, including with a US troop deployment to Nigeria and a major joint operation against Islamic State fighters in May.

From Barron's ● Sep. 3, 2026

In recent days, both California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass have urged the two sides to find common ground.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 23, 2026

In my book Mathematics and Humor I tried to show that both activities are forms of intellectual play, which often find common ground in brainteasers, puzzles, games, and paradoxes.

From "Innumeracy: Mathematical Illiteracy and Its Consequences" by John Allen Paulos