countermine: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal, Technical, Literary
Quick answer
What does “countermine” mean?
A mine (explosive tunnel) dug to intercept and destroy an enemy's mine.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A mine (explosive tunnel) dug to intercept and destroy an enemy's mine.
Any action or strategy designed to thwart, undermine, or defeat an opponent's plan or scheme.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. The term is equally rare in both varieties.
Connotations
Connotes strategic, intellectual, or covert conflict. Often used in historical, political, or espionage contexts.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both dialects. Primarily found in historical texts, military theory, and sophisticated political commentary.
Grammar
How to Use “countermine” in a Sentence
[Subject] countermined [Object (enemy plan/mine)][Subject] devised a countermine against [Object]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “countermine” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The general sought to countermine the enemy's propaganda campaign with a clever misinformation scheme.
- Their attempts to countermine our negotiations were ultimately unsuccessful.
American English
- The intelligence agency moved to countermine the terrorist plot before it could be executed.
- He countermined his rival's argument with meticulously gathered evidence.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. 'The board developed a legal countermine to the hostile takeover bid.'
Academic
Used in history, political science, and game theory. 'The paper analyses the countermine strategies in 18th-century siege warfare.'
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
Primary context is historical military engineering. 'Sappers worked through the night to dig a countermine.'
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “countermine”
Neutral
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “countermine”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “countermine”
- Using it as a synonym for simple 'opposition'. Confusing it with 'countermand' (to revoke an order). Misspelling as 'counter-mine' (hyphenated form is archaic).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a very low-frequency word, used almost exclusively in formal, historical, or highly strategic contexts.
'Undermine' means to weaken secretly or gradually. 'Countermine' is more specific: it is an active measure taken to destroy or neutralise an *existing* undermining attempt by an opponent.
It can be used metaphorically in business contexts describing competitive strategy, but it is very rare. Terms like 'countermove' or 'pre-emptive strike' are more common.
The primary stress is on the first syllable: COUNTER-mine. This distinguishes it from the phrase 'to counter a mine', which would stress 'mine'.
A mine (explosive tunnel) dug to intercept and destroy an enemy's mine.
Countermine is usually formal, technical, literary in register.
Countermine: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkaʊntəmaɪn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkaʊn(t)ərˌmaɪn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “To play a game of countermine (rare).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: COUNTER (against) + MINE (both a hidden explosive and 'to undermine'). A countermine works against a hidden threat to undermine it first.
Conceptual Metaphor
CONFLICT IS MINING/WARFARE; A STRATEGY IS A PHYSICAL STRUCTURE.
Practice
Quiz
In its original, literal sense, a 'countermine' is primarily associated with: