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

Specialist herbivores that feed on specific plants likely evolve metabolic countermeasures to detoxify or otherwise bypass chemical defenses of their hosts. —Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 3 June 2026

Last week, the bloc discussed proposals to curb the flood of cheap Chinese imports into Europe, prompting Beijing to threaten countermeasures. —Tasneem Nashrulla, semafor.com, 2 June 2026

Federal officials have been scrambling to get countermeasures in place as drones increasingly are being used as weapons of war and terror. —Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 1 June 2026

That deal appeared to be focused on air defenses and drone countermeasures, with systems like Patriot missiles and the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems included. —Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 29 May 2026

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