'counter-critique' originates from English, specifically a compound of 'counter' and 'critique' — 'counter' ultimately from Latin 'contra' (via Old French 'contre') meaning 'against', and 'critique' from French 'critique' (from Greek 'kritikē') meaning 'art of judgment' or 'criticism'.

'counter' developed in English via Old French 'contre' from Latin 'contra'; 'critique' entered English from French 'critique', which derived from Greek 'kritikē'. The modern compound 'counter-critique' arose in contemporary English usage to denote a critique that opposes another critique.

Initially the components conveyed the senses 'against' (counter) and 'criticism/judgment' (critique); over time the compound came to mean specifically 'a critical response that opposes another critique' rather than simply 'opposition to criticism' in a general sense.