counterinstance

noun

coun·​ter·​in·​stance ˌkau̇n-tər-ˈin(t)-stən(t)s How to pronounce counterinstance (audio)
variants or counter-instance
plural counterinstances or counter-instances
: a case that contradicts a rule, theory, etc. : exception sense 2
But in science and philosophy, few things are more prized than a clear counter-instance to a putative law or a prospective definition.Toni Vogel Carey

Word History

First Known Use

1847, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of counterinstance was in 1847

Dictionary Entries Near counterinstance

Cite this Entry

“Counterinstance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/counterinstance. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

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