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

Jamieson, a veteran of space stem cell research who has worked on nine missions so far, is planning future studies that will look at practical countermeasures for the aging process. —Jacopo Prisco, CNN Money, 5 Sep. 2025

Ukraine is now in a race against time to develop countermeasures and more effectively target elite formations like Rubicon. —David Kirichenko, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025

Ultrasound 2 — Kimiya Yui of JAXA and Mike Fincke of NASA worked together to test a possible countermeasure to the redistirbution of liquids from the feet to the head in microgravity. —Robert Z. Pearlman, Space.com, 29 Aug. 2025

Such efforts offer a unique opportunity to chart the course of scientific progress, steering the allocation of resources away from possibly dangerous goals, improving countermeasures and preparedness for biological risks, and in the process, laying the foundations for a better, safer future. —Liyam Chitayat, Foreign Affairs, 28 Aug. 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