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

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."

Example Sentences

Following the army's counteroffensive and recapture of Khartoum, more than 800,000 people have returned to the capital.

From Barron's • Oct. 21, 2025

Valerii Zaluzhnyi, then Milley’s Ukrainian counterpart, led the army that defeated Russian forces attempting to seize Kyiv in the early days of the war and drove them back in Ukraine’s counteroffensive.

From Slate • Mar. 19, 2025

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 • Dec. 7, 2024

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 • Nov. 19, 2024

The marines had started a counteroffensive up near Khe Sanh, and moved up there instead of into the Phuoc Ha Valley.

From "Fallen Angels" by Walter Dean Myers

Related Words

• reprisal
• retribution
• revenge