protected grounds
noun phraseUK /prəˈtɛktɪd ɡraʊndz/
US /prəˈtɛktɪd ɡraʊndz/
Special reasons, like your religion or skin color, that the law says people cannot treat you unfairly for.
The school's rules list protected grounds such as age, race, and disability.
RELATED WORDS
OTHER MEANINGS
2. Reasons in a legal case that a court must treat as important and cannot ignore.
The judge explained that safety concerns were protected grounds for the new rule.
3. Areas of land or property that are officially kept safe from building or harm.
The park's protected grounds are home to many rare birds.
4. Reasons a person gives that are officially accepted as valid.
Being sick was one of the protected grounds for missing the test.