counteroffensive
Americannoun
noun
Etymology
Origin of counteroffensive
Explanation
In military operations, attacks made from a defensive position are often called a counteroffensive. For example, an army might launch a counteroffensive against invading forces. If a region or nation is able and willing to fight back against military attacks, it will mount an armed counteroffensive. The term was coined during World War I, to describe the act of striking back after an invasion or offensive. It is from the verb counter, "go against," which derives from encounter, originally "meet an enemy," from the Old French encontre, "a meeting or fight."
Vocabulary lists containing counteroffensive
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
He had previously won praise for defending Kyiv at the start of Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, and for leading the successful counteroffensive east of Kharkiv in the autumn of that year.
From BBC ● Oct. 13, 2026
He added that the U.S. was expecting the counteroffensive would happen.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 5, 2026
There wasn’t much time to launch a counteroffensive.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 17, 2026
The EU pursues its trade counteroffensive with some economic wind at its back.
From Barron's ● Jan. 15, 2026
But Margo had given me a way of starting a counteroffensive.
From "Paper Towns" by John Green
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
