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

Active countermeasures are in development to protect GNSS systems, as jamming and spoofing are increasingly seen as extensions of more traditional cyber threats. —Ronald Bisio, Forbes, 14 Jan. 2025

And there are still no (successful) countermeasures. —John Mac Ghlionn, Newsweek, 14 Jan. 2025

Upon discovery, Microsoft revoked cybercriminal access, put in place countermeasures, and enhanced its safeguards to further block such malicious activity in the future. —Ars Technica, 10 Jan. 2025

The more credible risks for South Korea are Chinese and Russian countermeasures. —Robert E. Kelly, Foreign Affairs, 30 Dec. 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