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.
And deep sapphire gives the kind of counterculture cool girl who skips the gala hobnobbing for popping bottles with friends and stirring up good trouble around the town. — Loren Savini, Allure, 26 Oct. 2026 De la Bouillerie began his career on a high note as an editor on the Oscar-winning documentary Woodstock, which chronicled the landmark 1969 music festival that defined the counterculture generation. — Erik Pedersen, Deadline, 26 Oct. 2026 Freedom, mobility; who gets to be an artist; style, ornamentation, artifice; work, leisure; the counterculture; the denigration of femininity; West Coast oddballism. — Literary Hub, 15 Sep. 2026 Matsson grew up with America, and American music, as the holy grail — the folk and blues icons like Dylan and James, the punk bands, the counterculture. — Marissa R. Moss, Rolling Stone, 8 Sep. 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 28 Oct. 2026.

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