median strip

American  

noun

1. a paved, planted, or landscaped strip in the center of a highway that separates lanes of traffic going in opposite directions.

---

median strip British  

noun

1. the US term for central reserve

---

Etymology

Origin of median strip

First recorded in 1945–50

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

median strip

He sat on the median strip reading a book and smiled when he was shown a rendering of San Vicente Park.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 20, 2026

The man who died had been driving a small commercial vehicle, which is believed to have skidded and mounted the median strip.

From Barron's ● Jan. 5, 2026

Unlike elsewhere on the autobahn, the median strip on this 3.5-mile section isn’t grassy but solid tarmac.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 27, 2025

Many visitors littered, parked in driveways and in some cases dodged traffic to take photos from the bridge’s median strip, residents said in interviews.

From New York Times ● Jun. 7, 2024

As evening fell, we hung out on a median strip, counting padiddles—cars with one headlight burnt out.

From "Landscape with Invisible Hand" by M.T. Anderson