counterword

American  

[koun-ter-wurd] / ˈkaʊn tərˌwɜrd /

noun

1. a word, often of short-lived popularity, widely used as an almost meaningless, automatic response.

2. a word that has come to be used with a meaning much less specific than that which it had originally, as swell, awful, or terrific.

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counterword British  

/ ˈkaʊntəˌwɜːd /

noun

1. a word widely used in a sense much looser than its original meaning, such as tremendous or awful

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Etymology

Origin of counterword

First recorded in 1670–80; counter ¹ + word

Example Sentences

However, like in other countries worldwide, do-it-yourself publication including zines -- which originated in the 1930s with sci-fi fans in the US -- is growing in Japan, especially among younger generations.

From Barron's • Jun. 1, 2026

The new policy could result in nearly $13 billion in U.S. funding over the next five years for 32 countries worldwide that have so far signed the agreements, according to KFF.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 31, 2026

In 2021, Canada exported 161 million pounds of maple syrup to 71 countries worldwide - an increase of more than 19% from the year before.

From BBC • Mar. 25, 2024

"That is why it is vitally important that countries worldwide work to adopt the latest WHO recommendations to ensure arsenic exposure is minimised as much as possible to protect the public."

From Science Daily • Mar. 21, 2024

This VPN utilizes a network of 100+ servers in 14 countries worldwide, including torrent-friendly servers.

From Salon • Aug. 31, 2018