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Synonyms

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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of median strip

First recorded in 1945–50


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.

See Examples For:

I mentioned that I’d think twice about sending kids to play in a median strip 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

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