neutral ground
Americannoun
-
a median strip on a highway or boulevard, especially one planted with grass.
-
the strip of grass between a street and sidewalk.
Etymology
Origin of neutral ground
An Americanism dating back to 1815–25; for an earlier sense
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Though the neutral ground of Geneva is well used to hosting international negotiations on the world's most pressing topics, two sets of such talks on the same day is an exceptional sight.
From Barron's • Feb. 17, 2026
On the other, Southeast Asia stands to gain from manufacturing and investment relocation, as firms look for neutral ground.
From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 13, 2025
Now, these AFC West foes meet on neutral ground to resume what hasn’t been much of a rivalry of late.
From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 5, 2025
New Zealand's opportunity for revenge came on neutral ground, or at least it was supposed to.
From BBC • Oct. 15, 2023
He stepped out of his canoe and walked up to a man, a soldier of some kind, standing on the grassy median—New Orleanians called it the neutral ground.
From "Zeitoun" by Dave Eggers
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
