counter-revolutionary: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal; Academic; Political
Quick answer
What does “counter-revolutionary” mean?
Opposing a revolution.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Opposing a revolution; seeking to overturn or actively working against a revolution that has taken place.
A person or action opposing a political or social revolution; can describe ideologies, movements, or activities aimed at restoring a pre-revolutionary order or suppressing revolutionary change.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling: 'counter-revolutionary' is preferred in formal UK English, while US English may also accept 'counterrevolutionary' as a single closed compound.
Connotations
Similar in both varieties. Strongly associated with historical analyses of events like the French, Russian, or Chinese revolutions, and Cold War politics.
Frequency
Low frequency in everyday use but stable in historical/political/academic writing. No significant difference in frequency between varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “counter-revolutionary” in a Sentence
counter-revolutionary + noun (forces, group)be + branded/labelled/accused + as + counter-revolutionarytake + counter-revolutionary + actionVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “counter-revolutionary” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The regime moved swiftly to counter-revolutionise the rebellious province.
- They sought to counter-revolutionise the political landscape.
American English
- The general was accused of attempting to counterrevolutionize the new republic.
- Efforts to counterrevolutionize met with fierce resistance.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in history, political science, and sociology to analyse post-revolutionary conflicts and restoration attempts.
Everyday
Rare, except in political discussion or historical reference.
Technical
Used as a formal classification in political/historical analysis.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “counter-revolutionary”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “counter-revolutionary”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “counter-revolutionary”
- Misspelling as 'counter revolutionary' (space) or 'counterrevolutionary' (though the latter is sometimes accepted).
- Using it to mean simply 'conservative' in non-revolutionary contexts.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It can be both. As a noun: 'He was denounced as a counter-revolutionary.' As an adjective: 'They faced counter-revolutionary threats.'
While closely related, 'reactionary' is broader, describing a general desire to return to a previous (often more conservative) state of society. 'Counter-revolutionary' is more specific, implying active opposition to a particular, recent revolution.
It is extremely rare. Its core meaning is tied to political revolution. Metaphorical use (e.g., 'a counter-revolutionary stance against digitalisation') is possible but highly stylistic and deliberate.
The standard form is hyphenated: counter-revolutionary. However, the closed compound 'counterrevolutionary' is increasingly common, especially in American English. Avoid the two-word form 'counter revolutionary'.
Opposing a revolution.
Counter-revolutionary is usually formal; academic; political in register.
Counter-revolutionary: in British English it is pronounced /ˌkaʊn.təˌrev.əˈluː.ʃən.ər.i/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌkaʊn.t̬ɚˌrev.əˈluː.ʃə.ner.i/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms with this exact word. The concept is expressed directly.]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: COUNTER = against, REVOLUTIONARY = someone making radical change. A counter-revolutionary is AGAINST the revolution.
Conceptual Metaphor
POLITICAL CHANGE IS A DIRECTIONAL FORCE (revolution forwards, counter-revolution backwards).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the term 'counter-revolutionary' MOST appropriately used?