countermeasure

noun

coun·​ter·​mea·​sure ˈkau̇n-tər-ˌme-zhər 

-ˌmā-

: an action or device designed to negate or offset another

The most well-known countermeasure by a physician is a malicious-persecution suit against the lawyer who sued him and failed to prove a case.

—William J. Curran

The Germans had developed a tricky magnetic mine, but the British had developed a countermeasure for this even before the mine was used.

—Bernard Brodie and Fawn M. Brodie

especially : electronic countermeasure

Examples of countermeasure in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

South Korean officials suspect China seeks to gradually achieve de facto control over those waters, warning of countermeasures if China fails to be more transparent. —Micah McCartney, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 June 2025

Analysts said any Iranian countermeasure would be carefully calibrated to avoid a devastating escalation. —Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 23 June 2025

Countering Fiber Drones At present there are no good countermeasures against fiber drones. —David Hambling, Forbes.com, 6 June 2025

If a deal is not agreed by then, full reciprocal import tariffs of 50% on EU goods, and the bloc’s wide-spanning countermeasures are set to come into effect. —Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 19 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1923, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing countermeasure

• counter-countermeasure
• electronic countermeasure

Rhymes for countermeasure

• displeasure
• leisure
• measure
• pleasure
• treasure

Kids Definition

countermeasure

noun

coun·​ter·​mea·​sure ˈkau̇nt-ər-ˌmezh-ər 

-ˌmāzh-

: an action or device designed to counteract another