counteroffensive

[ koun-ter-uh-fen-siv, koun-ter-uh-fen- ]

/ ˌkaʊn tər əˈfɛn sɪv, ˈkaʊn tər əˌfɛn- /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR counteroffensive ON THESAURUS.COM

noun Military.

an attack by an army against an attacking enemy force.

Nearby words

countermeasure, countermelody, countermigration, countermine, countermove, counteroffensive, counteroffer, counteropening, counterpane, counterpart, counterparty

Origin of counteroffensive

First recorded in 1915–20; counter- + offensive

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for counteroffensive

Whatever degree of American assistance the Kurds are receiving, they have already begun a counteroffensive.
Will U.S. Troops Stand By While ISIS Starves Thousands?|Jacob Siegel|August 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Approximately 90 Palestinians have been killed since Israel began its counteroffensive—among them were 22 children.
Numbers Don’t Tell the Mideast Story|Thane Rosenbaum|July 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Howard Kurtz on whether NPR acted unfairly—and Fox's counteroffensive.
Was Juan Williams Fired Unfairly?|Howard Kurtz|October 21, 2010|DAILY BEAST
Essentially, US forces were sallying out to launch a counteroffensive to retake the city.
'Stop Commuting to War'|Thomas E. Ricks|February 10, 2009|DAILY BEAST

Von Boehn, therefore, was hurriedly detached rearward to deal with the Belgian counteroffensive.
The Story of the Great War, Volume II (of VIII)|Various
South of the Lupkow the Germanic forces opened their counteroffensive on April 6, 1915.
The Story of the Great War, Volume III (of VIII)|Various
Since the beginning of the counteroffensive 30,000 German prisoners were taken.
The Story of the Great War, Volume VII (of VIII)|Various
This was General Joffre's counteroffensive, and it developed in detail almost exactly along the lines that he had laid down.
The Story of the Great War, Volume II (of VIII)|Various
This counteroffensive had reached its end practically on July 6, 1918.
The Story of the Great War, Volume VIII (of VIII)|various

British Dictionary definitions for counteroffensive

counteroffensive

/ (ˈkaʊntərəˌfɛnsɪv) /

noun

a series of attacks by a defending force against an attacking enemy

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

counteroffensive

noun Military.

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of counteroffensive

Examples from the Web for counteroffensive

British Dictionary definitions for counteroffensive

counteroffensive

noun