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-ˈkəlch-rə-list 

-ˈkəl-chə-

noun

Examples of counterculture in a Sentence

the counterculture of the hippies

He was part of the antiwar counterculture.

Recent Examples on the Web

Black activists would find common ground with the nascent counterculture. —Calmatters, Mercury News, 8 Aug. 2025

This excerpt looks at the story of the first Be-In, which featured a performance by the Dead for an audience full of counterculture luminaries. —Dennis McNally, Rolling Stone, 7 Aug. 2025

The reconstituted Vice aims to focus on genres like crime, music, sports, comedy and counterculture and will continue to produce select films. —Dade Hayes, Deadline, 7 Aug. 2025

The brand launched in 2014 integrating Asian streetwear with L.A.’s laidback style and niche elements from counterculture interests like skateboarding and graffiti. —Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 5 Aug. 2025

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