ground zero
Definition of ground zero
1 : the point directly above, below, or at which a nuclear explosion occurs
2 : the center or origin of rapid, intense, or violent activity or change; broadly : center 2a the party town that served as ground zero for those corporate … bashes — Rich Eisen
3 : the very beginning : square one
From the M-W Editors
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
First Known Use of ground zero
1946
GROUND ZERO Defined for English Language Learners
ground zero
Definition of ground zero for English Language Learners
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: the point on the earth's surface directly above, below, or at which an explosion (especially a nuclear explosion) occurs
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: the central point in an area of fast change or intense activity
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: the beginning state or starting point
Learn More about ground zero
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Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for ground zero Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about ground zero
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