counterexample

[ koun-ter-ig-zam-puhl, -zahm- ]

noun

1. an example that refutes an assertion or claim.

counterexample

/ ˈkaʊntərɪɡˌzɑːmpəl /

noun

1. an example or fact that is inconsistent with a hypothesis and may be used in argument against it

Word History and Origins

Origin of counterexample¹

First recorded in 1955–60; counter- + example

Example Sentences

He thought the five-cycle case, in particular, would be the counterexample demonstrating that very point.

From Quanta Magazine

Mathematicians often find minimal counterexamples easier to work with because they can focus on those parts of the graph that are relevant to the problem at hand and temporarily ignore the rest.

From Quanta Magazine

Gardam’s discovery of a counterexample to the unit conjecture is oddly reassuring, Kropholler said, because it suggests that this hard work was really needed.

From Quanta Magazine

So one immediate question is whether there are counterexamples to be found using other number systems such as the real or complex numbers.

From Quanta Magazine

For Gardam, his discovery is the culmination of years spent hunting for intriguing counterexamples in algebra.

From Quanta Magazine