counterterrorism

noun

coun·​ter·​ter·​ror·​ism ˌkau̇n-tər-ˈter-ər-ˌi-zəm 

variants or counter-terrorism

: measures designed to combat or prevent terrorism

an expert in counterterrorism

—often used before another noun

a local counterterrorism council

new counter-terrorism policies/measures

Examples of counterterrorism in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Earlier this month, Trump’s counterterrorism czar, Sebastian Gorka, released a public counterterrorism strategy claiming that left-wing extremists are one of the three top counterterrorism priorities facing the United States. —Daniel Boguslaw, ArsTechnica, 27 May 2026

Evidence tied to last week's deadly attack on a California mosque illustrates a violent ideology and playbook that is all too familiar to counterterrorism and extremism experts. —Odette Yousef, NPR, 27 May 2026

Still, some Israeli military personnel discreetly expressed reservations over the acquisition, noting that the system had nothing to do with supporting counterterrorism operations in Sinai. —Paul Iddon, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026

Several of the White House’s stated counterterrorism objectives conflict with the president’s own actions, analysts say. —Hannah Allam, ProPublica, 14 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1864, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for counterterrorism

• absolutism
• adventurism
• aestheticism
• africanism
• agnosticism
• alcoholism
• anachronism
• anglicanism
• antagonism
• arianism
• asceticism
• astigmatism