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

Minnesota has become ground zero for the administration’s anti-fraud campaign after investigators identified billions of dollars in potentially fraudulent claims across high-risk Medicaid programs. —Sally Pipes, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026

The Hartford History Center — ground zero for the flooding — also has been restored and more fully opened up to the rest of the library. —Kenneth R. Gosselin, Hartford Courant, 1 June 2026

Rollins, who had been evacuated from his apartment a few blocks from ground zero, had gone ahead with the concert at the urging of his wife and manager, Lucille. —CBS News, 26 May 2026

Rollins, who had been evacuated from his apartment a few blocks from ground zero, had gone ahead with the concert at the urging of his wife and manager, Lucille. —ABC News, 25 May 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