high ground

American  

noun

1. a position of moral or ethical superiority.

   The candidate has claimed the moral high ground.

---

Etymology

Origin of high ground

First recorded in 1480–90; current sense dates from 1800–10

Example Sentences

Significant snow has already fallen over high ground in the centre of the island around the Mount Teide volcano.

From BBC • Mar. 20, 2026

Things have only grown more heated as the men and their companies have tried to claim the moral high ground in conflicting dealings with the Pentagon.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 7, 2026

Rainfall accumulations of 60-80mm are likely, with as much as 100-120mm over high ground.

From BBC • Jan. 22, 2026

Texts from the Old Kingdom describe the creator god appearing as a mound of high ground emerging from surrounding waters referred to as 'the lake'.

From Science Daily • Jan. 4, 2026

“Yes,” said Taran, his head still muddled with the bard’s talk of high ground and western banks, “that sounds very reasonable.”

From "The Book of Three" by Lloyd Alexander