counteroffensive

American  

[koun-ter-uh-fen-siv, koun-ter-uh-fen-] / ˌkaʊn tər əˈfɛn sɪv, ˈkaʊn tər əˌfɛn- /

noun

Military.

1. an attack by an army against an attacking enemy force.

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counteroffensive British  

/ ˈkaʊntərəˌfɛnsɪv /

noun

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

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Etymology

Origin of counteroffensive

First recorded in 1915–20; counter- + offensive

Example Sentences

It’s a proactive counteroffensive, built on showing that democratic alternatives exist and can work both to identify and solve real problems, and to bring people together.

From Salon

In the first few months of the war the front line moved quickly, with Russia gaining ground quickly before being pushed back by a Ukrainian counteroffensive.

From BBC

A Ukrainian officer fighting in the Kursk region told the BBC that the Russian counteroffensive had begun some distance to the west of Sudzha.

From BBC

In recent months, the military has tried to recapture Jazeera with a major counteroffensive.

From New York Times

Russian troops recently advanced farther into Robotyne, a village in the south that was one of the rare successes of Ukraine’s failed counteroffensive last summer.

From New York Times

Related Words

• reprisal
• retribution
• revenge