counterculture

noun

coun·​ter·​cul·​ture ˈkau̇n-tər-ˌkəl-chər 

: a culture with values and mores that run counter to those of established society

countercultural

ˌkau̇n-tər-ˈkəlch-rəl, 

-ˈkəl-chə- 

adjective

counterculturalism

ˌkau̇n-tər-ˈkəlch-rə-ˌli-zəm, 

-ˈkəl-chə- 

noun

counterculturist

ˌkau̇n-tər-ˈkəl-chə-rist 

noun

Examples of counterculture in a Sentence

the counterculture of the hippies

He was part of the antiwar counterculture.

Recent Examples on the Web

The urban folk music revival had peaked in New York City’s Greenwich Village, and music was embracing the counterculture. — Ted Olson, The Conversation, 2 July 2026

That same kind of counterculture is what makes Argentina be in such turmoil. — Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026

The counterculture of the Baby Boomers came roaring onto TV with Lorne Michaels' sketch comedy series that has been an institution on NBC Saturday nights for 51 years. — Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 29 June 2026

During discussions about elementary and middle school social studies curriculum, board members made addendums, including education about the horrors of communism, why the Second Amendment was created and how counterculture increased the rate of divorce. — Rachel Royster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1947, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for counterculture

• agriculture
• apiculture
• aquaculture
• floriculture
• horticulture
• mariculture
• monoculture
• sericulture
• silviculture
• viticulture
• arboriculture
• culture