counterculture

noun

coun·​ter·​cul·​ture ˈkau̇n-tər-ˌkəl-chər How to pronounce counterculture (audio)
: a culture with values and mores that run counter to those of established society
countercultural
ˌkau̇n-tər-ˈkəlch-rəl, 
-ˈkəl-chə- How to pronounce counterculture (audio)
adjective
counterculturalism
ˌkau̇n-tər-ˈkəlch-rə-ˌli-zəm, 
-ˈkəl-chə- How to pronounce counterculture (audio)
noun
counterculturist
ˌkau̇n-tər-ˈkəl-chə-rist How to pronounce counterculture (audio)
noun

Examples of counterculture in a Sentence

the counterculture of the hippies He was part of the antiwar counterculture.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In 1970, she and fellow protesters were arrested and jailed after occupying the offices of the counterculture Grove Press, whose owner, Barney Rosset, was fighting employees’ efforts to unionize. — Hillel Italie, Los Angeles Times, 5 Sep. 2026 By the 1990s, as the internet was becoming a mass medium, some of its first boosters (many of whom had roots in the counterculture) were presenting it as the realization of countercultural ideals. — Jake Lundberg, The Atlantic, 3 Sep. 2026 Against the backdrop of the Vietnam War and the broader counterculture, her work became increasingly intertwined with political and social concerns. — Tessa Solomon For Artnews, Robb Report, 28 Aug. 2026 Mixing humor and music with politics and the counterculture, the show was a hit with fans but not networks censors. — Erik Pedersen, Deadline, 27 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for counterculture

Word History

First Known Use

1947, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of counterculture was in 1947

Rhymes for counterculture

See All Rhymes for counterculture

Browse Nearby Words

countercry
counterculture
countercurrent
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Counterculture.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/counterculture. Accessed 7 Sep. 2026.

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