counterinstance

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noun

An instance (example) which shows the opposite of a given theory to be true, thus disproving it.

OriginEnglish instance ← Middle English counter- ← Anglo-Norman countre- →
Scrabble 19
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Meanings

nouncounterinstance (plural counterinstances)

plural counterinstances

  1. An instance (example) which shows the opposite of a given theory to be true, thus disproving it.

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*ḱe?
  2. Proto-Indo-European*ḱóm
  3. Proto-Italic*kom
  4. Proto-Italic*kom-
  5. Proto-Italic*komteros
  6. Proto-Italic*komterād
  7. Latincontrā
  8. Old Frenchcontre-
  9. Anglo-Normancountre-
  10. Middle Englishcounter-
  11. Englishcounter-
  12. Englishinstance
  13. Englishcounterinstance

From counter- + instance.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

counterinstance. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/counterinstance

MLA

“counterinstance.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/counterinstance. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “counterinstance,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/counterinstance.

Source: counterinstance on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.