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.

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counterterrorism British  

/ ˌkaʊntəˈtɛrəˌrɪzəm /

noun

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

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Other Word Forms

• counterterrorist noun

Etymology

Origin of counterterrorism

First recorded in 1965–70; counter- + terrorism

Example Sentences

It also opened a new chapter in the U.S. counterterrorism strategy in which Washington is aligning itself with Sharaa’s forces.

From The Wall Street Journal

In December, Iran hosted troops from China, Russia and seven other countries for Sahand-2025, counterterrorism drills organized under the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, a security and economic grouping led by China and Russia.

From The Wall Street Journal

Last year, Egypt started positioning troops in Somalia as well as providing the African country with weapons and counterterrorism advisers.

From The Wall Street Journal

In May, CIA Deputy Director Michael Ellis said the CIA was applying counterterrorism tactics to what has long been considered a law-enforcement issue.

From The Wall Street Journal

“What else could defendants’ decisions to cut funding to specific counterterrorism programming by conspicuous round numbered amounts — including by slashing off the millions-place digits of awarded sums — be if not arbitrary and capricious?”

From Salon