middle ground

American  

noun

1. an intermediate position, area, or recourse between two opposites or extremes; a halfway or neutral standpoint.

2. middle distance.

3. Nautical. a length of comparatively shallow water having channels on both sides.

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middle ground British  

noun

1. another term for middle distance See middle-distance

2. a position of compromise between two opposing views, parties, etc

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Etymology

Origin of middle ground

First recorded in 1775–85

Example Sentences

Unless both sides can make a giant leap into an unexplored middle ground of compromise, it is hard to see a deal being made.

From BBC • Mar. 28, 2026

Terahertz light has long been considered promising for imaging because it occupies a useful middle ground.

From Science Daily • Mar. 17, 2026

"That's the middle ground we have to find in the future: between absurd investments in the billions and a sensible approach in terms of sustainability," Odermatt said.

From Barron's • Feb. 5, 2026

“We’ve got to find the middle ground that still allows us to innovate even if we produce in this bifurcated way,” he says.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 20, 2026

Aware of the rivalry between the two schools, employers searched for some middle ground of impartiality, fearful that any inadvertent slip might cause a mutiny from one half of the work force or the other.

From "Friday Night Lights: A Town, A Team, And A Dream" by H.G. Bissinger