Counterdemonstrator

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A person who takes part in a protest opposing another group's public demonstration, often gathering at the same location to express rival views
2. Someone who turns out to oppose a march or rally held by others, typically to voice disagreement with its message
3. An individual staging an opposing protest against a public demonstration, usually to challenge the cause that the original marchers support

Etymology: "Counterdemonstrator" is simply "counter-" attached to "demonstrator," so the story is in the parts. "Demonstrator" comes from the Latin "demonstrare," "to point out or show clearly," built from "de-" and "monstrare," "to show," which is related to "monstrum," a sign or omen. The Latin "demonstrator" passed through Old French and Middle English into English, where "demonstrate" and its agent noun settled into the sense of someone who shows or proves something. The prefix "counter-" has a longer road. It descends from Latin "contra," "against," and reached English through Old French "contre" and Anglo-Norman "countre," which is why it carries the sense of opposition. Adding it to "demonstrator" produces a person who takes part in a demonstration in order to oppose another group demonstrating on the opposite side. The word is a modern formation, built in English from these existing parts, so its meaning is transparent: a counter-demonstrator is someone who demonstrates against a demonstration.

Synonyms: counterprotester, counter-protester