high ground

American  

noun

1. a position of moral or ethical superiority.

   The candidate has claimed the moral high ground.

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Etymology

Origin of high ground

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

Example Sentences

With the colder air in place those showers could be a little wintry with snow over the high ground of Scotland, which is not unusual at this time of year.

From BBC • May 11, 2026

HawkEye is focused on government applications, staking out strategic high ground above the clouds.

From Barron's • May 7, 2026

The airman would have received training for a situation like this, and it would have involved turning his beacon signal on, getting to high ground, concealing himself and establishing communications.

From BBC • Apr. 5, 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

The village, on high ground, dominated the Avre River valley.

From "East of Eden" by John Steinbeck