counterexample

noun

coun·​ter·​ex·​am·​ple ˈkau̇n-tər-ig-ˌzam-pəl How to pronounce counterexample (audio)
: an example that refutes or disproves a proposition or theory

Examples of counterexample in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Despite the Mendelian assumption that genes and mutations often act independently in crafting traits, scientists soon observed several counterexamples. C. Brandon Ogbunu, Quanta Magazine, 31 July 2023 The counterexamples did not hold up, suggesting that the conjecture might be correct after all. Steve Nadis, Quanta Magazine, 16 Oct. 2023 The counterexamples tend to involve technologies that the government effectively built itself, like nuclear power development, which Congress regulated in 1946, one year after the first atomic bombs were detonated. Ian Prasad Philbrick, BostonGlobe.com, 26 Aug. 2023 Some cops are corrupt, as many leaders have been, but Hermes is a diligent and dedicated counterexample. Peter Debruge, Variety, 12 Aug. 2023 Mathematicians thought the rare counterexamples that remained possible after Kontorovich and Bourgain’s paper didn’t actually exist, mostly because the two or three most well-studied circle packings seemed to follow the local-global conjecture so well, Kontorovich said. Quanta Magazine, 10 Aug. 2023 This recent call from Latter-day Saint leaders could create a potential counterexample of a trend within American religion. The Salt Lake Tribune, 11 July 2023 While discussing how male auteurs are treated in Hollywood, Natasha Lyonne (Poker Face) brought up a counterexample to the franchising of the male TV auteur: Larry David. Vulture, 6 June 2023 However, one strange counterexample is the contrast in lifespan among different sized dog breeds. Conor Feehly, Discover Magazine, 3 May 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'counterexample.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1809, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of counterexample was in 1809

Dictionary Entries Near counterexample

Cite this Entry

“Counterexample.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/counterexample. Accessed 4 Dec. 2023.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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