counteroffensive
|coun/ter/of/fen/sive|
C1
/ˌkaʊntərəˈfɛnsɪv/
military response
Etymology
Etymology Information
'counteroffensive' originates from the combination of 'counter-' meaning 'against' and 'offensive' meaning 'an aggressive action'.
Historical Evolution
'counteroffensive' evolved from the military term 'offensive' with the prefix 'counter-' added to denote a response to an attack.
Meaning Changes
Initially, it meant 'a response to an attack', and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a large-scale military attack by a force that was previously on the defensive.
The army launched a counteroffensive to regain lost territory.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/01/11 11:45