countervalue

adjective

coun·​ter·​val·​ue ˌkau̇n-tər-ˈval-(ˌ)yü 

variants or counter-value

: being or relating to military activity that is focused on attacking targets of civilian value (such as major population centers)

In the cold parlance of nuclear strategy, targeting an adversary's population is known as a countervalue strategy; the name arises because live people are considered to have value, something a country would not want to lose.

—Richard Wolfson

compare counterforce entry 2

Word History

First Known Use

1970, in the meaning defined above