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

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

“We are building common ground in a powerful way,” he said.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 19, 2026

A correct understanding of who the Japanese people really are, and how they diverged from the closely related Korean people, will be essential to finding that common ground.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond