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

What affected communities urgently need are investments in surveillance, laboratory capacity, infection prevention and control, health care worker protection, community engagement, and research into medical countermeasures for Bundibugyo ebolavirus. —Krutika Kuppalli, STAT, 5 June 2026

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

In preparation, federal authorities have been training local law enforcement in drone countermeasures. —Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 1 June 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