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

In an attempt last year to thwart Lapsley’s initiative, Democrats in the Legislature voted to place a countermeasure on the ballot called Assembly Constitutional Amendment 13 to raise the bar for the tax measure — and others like it — to be approved by voters. —Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 20 June 2024

That would allow countries and regions to become self-reliant in producing countermeasures. —Lawrence O. Gostin, Scientific American, 19 June 2024

Catching early signs of a mood swing can enable people to take countermeasures or seek help before things get bad. —IEEE Spectrum, 19 May 2024

It was created as a countermeasure to encroaching Soviet forces in Central and Eastern Europe. —Lorenzino Estrada, The Arizona Republic, 4 Apr. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1923, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing countermeasure

• counter-countermeasure
• electronic countermeasure

Kids Definition

countermeasure

noun

coun·​ter·​mea·​sure ˈkau̇nt-ər-ˌmezh-ər 

-ˌmāzh-

: an action or device designed to counteract another