staging area

American  

noun

1. an area, as a port of embarkation, where troops are assembled and readied for transit to a new field of operations.

2. any area or place serving as a point of assembly or preparation on the way to a destination.

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staging area British  

noun

1. a general locality used as a checkpoint or regrouping area for military formations in transit

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Etymology

Origin of staging area

First recorded in 1940–45

Example Sentences

There was a contingency plan: Three smaller planes carrying specialized teams later made their way to the remote staging area.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 5, 2026

Embassy staff hostages nearly 46 years ago—had failed dramatically after a series of mishaps, punctuated by a fiery crash at a desert staging area.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 5, 2026

An initial staging area, which was in the path of the evacuation route and the fire, was consumed within 30 minutes, authorities said.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 4, 2025

Russia has not commented, but state media reported that forces had hit a "military staging area" in Sumy province.

From BBC • May 17, 2025

They shuffled back across the staging area to the airlock door that led to Level 4.

From "The Hot Zone" by Richard Preston