Counterdemonstration

/ˌkaʊntərdɛmənˈstreɪʃən/ noun

Definition

A public protest or march organized in opposition to another protest or demonstration.

Etymology

From counter- (against) + demonstration (a public gathering to protest). This noun form emerged in the 20th century alongside increasingly organized protest movements, allowing for the noun form describing the event itself.

Kelly Says

The Vietnam War era perfected the counterdemonstration—anti-war protesters would face pro-war counterdemonstrators on the same street, which sounds chaotic but actually created a visible representation of American society's internal debate.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.