countergovernment

noun

coun·ter·gov·ern·ment ˌkau̇n-tər-ˈgə-vər(n)-mənt

-və-mənt;

-ˈgə-bᵊm-ənt,

-vᵊm-

variants or counter-government

plural countergovernments or counter-governments

: a group of people that organizes as an unofficial governing authority to oppose or supplant a legitimate or generally recognized government

His investigation … has shown the existence of what he called ersatz embassies, that is, diplomatic outposts of countergovernments or governments-in-exile.—

Richard Dale

Word History

First Known Use

1818, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of countergovernment was in 1818

See more words from the same year

Cite this Entry

Style

“Countergovernment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/countergovernment. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.

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