ground zero

noun

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 sense 2a
the party town that served as ground zero for those corporate … bashes Rich Eisen
3
: the very beginning : square one

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Next season’s Eastern Conference will be ground zero of the NBA’s parity gambit, molded into the shape of competition the league set in motion over the past half-decade. Jared Weiss, New York Times, 8 July 2025 Kansas City isn’t exactly ground zero for Oklahoma City Thunder fandom, but the NBA team does have support in the area. Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 30 June 2025 Indiana is ground zero for the growth of the WNBA, thanks to the arrival of Caitlin Clark as the No. 1 draft pick in 2024. Kurt Badenhausen, Sportico.com, 24 June 2025 That distinction falls to the Bay Area — ground zero for Democratic politics and pro-immigrant rights. Max Taves, Mercury News, 11 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for ground zero

Word History

First Known Use

1946, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of ground zero was in 1946

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Ground zero.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ground%20zero. Accessed 14 Jul. 2025.

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

More from Merriam-Webster on ground zero

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!