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

China has accused the deployment of threatening its security interests and has vowed to take countermeasures. —Ryan Chan, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Nov. 2025

The rise will be driven by global defense budgets, efforts to modernize militaries, and the need for advanced countermeasures against drones and missiles. —Abhishek Bhardwaj, Interesting Engineering, 26 Nov. 2025

The lack of countermeasures to reduce the bridge's vulnerability to collapse after being struck by a ship also contributed to the disaster, the board said. —Brian Witte, Arkansas Online, 19 Nov. 2025

Gong also stole blueprints for sensors enabling U.S. military aircraft to detect incoming heat-seeking missiles and to take countermeasures, including jamming the missiles' infrared tracking. —Tim Fang, CBS News, 19 Nov. 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