'counter-dumping' originates from modern English combining the prefix 'counter-' (from Latin 'contra', via Old French 'contre', meaning 'against') and the noun 'dumping' (from the verb 'dump' + '-ing'), where 'counter-' meant 'against' and 'dump' originally meant 'to drop or unload'.

'dump' developed from Middle English/Dialectal forms such as 'dumpen' meaning 'to fall or drop'; the economic sense 'dumping' (selling goods at very low prices, often below cost) arose in the early 20th century, and 'counter-dumping' then emerged in international trade law to name actions taken against such practices.

Initially, 'dump' referred to physical dropping or unloading and later took on the economic sense of selling large quantities cheaply; 'counter-dumping' evolved from the literal 'against dumping' to a specialized term for official trade remedies (duties/investigations) against unfairly low-priced imports.