Counterprotester

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A person who takes part in a demonstration opposing the views or actions of another group that is protesting
2. Someone who stages a rival protest to oppose or challenge a demonstration held by people with opposing aims
3. An individual who demonstrates against a protest movement, expressing disagreement with the cause being promoted by others

Etymology: The word "counterprotester" is a modern compound with a simple structure: the prefix "counter-" joined to "protester." Its first half traces back a long way. "Counter" comes from Latin "contrā," meaning "against" or "opposite," which passed into Old French as "contre" and then into Middle English as "counter," a sense that has carried the idea of opposition ever since. The "protest" in "protester" comes from Latin "protestārī," to declare publicly, and the agent suffix "-er" was added in English to denote a person who does the action. Combining these parts is a straightforward act of English word-building. "Counter-" can attach to many nouns to mean "in opposition to," as in "counterattack" or "counterargument," so "counterprotester" describes someone who protests against another group's protest. The word is a recent formation, following the common pattern of adding "counter-" to an existing agent noun.

Synonyms: counterdemonstrator, counter-protester

Antonyms: protester