counterword

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noun

A word (for example so) that is frequently used in a reflex-like manner in an answer and that has thereby quickly taken on a new, much less specific or much looser meaning or is even almost meaningless and performs a completely new function.

OriginEnglish word ← Middle English counter- ← Anglo-Norman countre- →
Scrabble 17
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Meanings

nouncounterword (plural counterwords)

plural counterwords

  1. A word (for example so) that is frequently used in a reflex-like manner in an answer and that has thereby quickly taken on a new, much less specific or much looser meaning or is even almost meaningless and performs a completely new function.
  2. Such a word (or a word that has gone through a similar change) when not used as a reflex-like answer.

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. Englishword
  13. Englishcounterword

From counter- + word.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

counterword. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/counterword

MLA

“counterword.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/counterword. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “counterword,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/counterword.

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