ground zero

noun

1

: the point directly above, below, or at which an explosion and especially a nuclear explosion occurs

2

: the center or origin of rapid, intense, or violent activity or change

Mingo Junction … sits at ground zero of the longest steelworker strike in American history.

—Michael Janofsky

broadly : center sense 2a

… the party town that served as ground zero for those corporate … bashes.

—Rich Eisen

3

: the very beginning : square one

We'll have to go back to ground zero and start over.

Synonyms of ground zero

• center
• capital
• hub
• mecca
• focus
• base
• nucleus
• core
• seat
• nerve center
• heart

Examples of ground zero in a Sentence

ground zero in the battle over immigration laws

a city that was once ground zero for the insurance industry

Recent Examples on the Web

Florida is ground zero for climate change, but politicians and the news media ignore the facts. — Ticked Off, The Orlando Sentinel, 20 Aug. 2026

Kathe Conlon, who is advocating for better 9/11 memorial care, helped search for victims on ground zero nearly 25 years ago. — Adi Guajardo, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026

Topline Ancient Egypt’s former capital is about to become ground zero for the world’s eclipse chasers. — Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 16 Aug. 2026

The Food and Drug Administration called out iceberg lettuce processed at a Taylor Farms facility in central Mexico as the likely ground zero for the waterborne parasite's recent spread. — Alex Harring, CNBC, 12 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1946, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for ground zero

• subzero
• biro
• spiro
• superhero

Kids Definition

ground zero

noun

1

: the site of a nuclear explosion

2

: the center of rapid, intense, or violent activity or change

3

: the very beginning : square one