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

As cheap drones increasingly threaten expensive weapons, militaries are turning to decoys as a countermeasure. —Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 3 Oct. 2025

Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs immediately protested South Africa's efforts in July, accusing South Africa of suppressing Taiwan and promising countermeasures if South Africa refused to consult with Taiwan on the embassy relocation. —Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 24 Sep. 2025

Railguns are also seen as a potential countermeasure against hypersonic missiles, which can travel at over five times the speed of sound, according to the Japanese newspaper Yomiuri Shimbun. —Ryan Chan, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Sep. 2025

The following year, legislation was passed formally designating these problems as matters of national concern and obligating local governments to implement countermeasures. —Gil Press, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025

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