counterterrorism

American  

[koun-ter-ter-uh-riz-uhm] / ˌkaʊn tərˈtɛr əˌrɪz əm /

noun

1. terrorism in reaction to or retaliation for some previous act of terrorism.

---

counterterrorism British  

/ ˌkaʊntəˈtɛrəˌrɪzəm /

noun

1. activities that are intended to prevent terrorist acts or to eradicate terrorist groups

---

Other Word Forms

• counterterrorist noun

Etymology

Origin of counterterrorism

First recorded in 1965–70; counter- + terrorism

Example Sentences

He served in one of Afghanistan’s elite counterterrorism units operated by the CIA, according to AfghanEvac, a nonprofit organization that resettles Afghan nationals.

From The Wall Street Journal

The suspect served in one of Afghanistan’s elite counterterrorism units operated by the CIA, according to AfghanEvac, a nonprofit organization that resettles Afghan nationals outside the country.

From The Wall Street Journal

He was in one of Afghanistan’s elite counterterrorism units operated by the CIA, according to AfghanEvac, a nonprofit organization that resettles Afghan nationals outside the country.

From The Wall Street Journal

Sleeper cells are active inside the camps and weapons have been confiscated during searches by Kurdish and U.S. forces, according to camp administrators, Kurdish counterterrorism and military officials, U.N. investigators and interviews with detainees.

From The Wall Street Journal

It directs the federal government to mobilize law enforcement resources, including the post-9/11 counterterrorism apparatus and Joint Terrorism Task Forces, against individuals and organizations that fall within these expansive categories.

From Salon