counterterrorism

noun

coun·​ter·​ter·​ror·​ism ˌkau̇n-tər-ˈter-ər-ˌi-zəm 

variants or counter-terrorism

: measures designed to combat or prevent terrorism

an expert in counterterrorism

—often used before another noun

a local counterterrorism council

new counter-terrorism policies/measures

Examples of counterterrorism in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Protecting a top terror target With millions of people expected Thursday to line the famous Canyon of Heroes -- Broadway from Battery Park to City Hall -- security experts say the NYPD will have a counterterrorism overlay to protect the public because New York City is a top terror target. —Marcia Kramer, CBS News, 15 June 2026

Helen Flanagan, head of the counterterrorism team at the Metropolitan Police. —ABC News, 15 June 2026

The bill would create a new framework for tackling threats posed by foreign governments and their proxies, an area critics say Britain's existing counterterrorism laws were not designed to address. —Brittany Miller, FOXNews.com, 10 June 2026

After the September 11th attacks and the subsequent overthrow of the Taliban, Islamabad became a vital counterterrorism partner. —Sudarsan Raghavan, New Yorker, 3 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1864, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for counterterrorism

• absolutism
• adventurism
• aestheticism
• africanism
• agnosticism
• alcoholism
• anachronism
• anglicanism
• antagonism
• arianism
• asceticism
• astigmatism