What does counterculture mean?
Counterculture refers to a way of life whose values, beliefs, and practices consciously reject or oppose the prevailing norms of a society. Unlike an ordinary subculture, which simply differs from the mainstream while coexisting with it, a counterculture defines itself against dominant institutions — challenging accepted ideas about politics, sexuality, religion, work, or consumption. The term rose to prominence in the late 1960s to describe the hippie movement, anti-war activism, psychedelic music, and experimental communes that swept through America and Europe, and it has since been applied to punk, beatniks, and other oppositional movements. Usually a mass noun ('the counterculture'), it often carries romantic connotations of rebellion and authenticity, though writers may use it neutrally or disapprovingly. It remains a valuable term for describing how cultural dissent shapes — and is eventually absorbed by — mainstream life.
nounA way of life and set of attitudes, values, and practices that deliberately rejects or opposes the dominant culture of a society.
- A social movement or group whose values and lifestyle deliberately oppose those of the dominant mainstream culture.
- The collective attitudes, art, music, and practices produced by such a group, treated as a cultural phenomenon (e.g. the counterculture of the 1960s).
"The hippie movement of the 1960s became the defining counterculture of its generation."
"San Francisco in 1967 was the epicenter of a youth counterculture that rejected materialism and embraced communal living."
"Punk rock began as a counterculture that challenged the polished commercialism of mainstream music."
The plural is uncommon but legitimate, typically used by sociologists and historians to refer to multiple distinct oppositional movements within or across societies.
"The city has hosted many countercultures over the decades, each leaving its mark on local art and politics."
The word 'counterculture' barely existed before 1969 — then Theodore Roszak's book made it the label for an entire rebellious generation.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of counterculture
Counterculture is a modern English compound formed from the prefix 'counter-', from Latin 'contra' meaning 'against', combined with 'culture', ultimately from Latin 'cultura', meaning cultivation of the land and later of the mind. The word emerged in American English during the 1960s and was popularized by historian Theodore Roszak's 1969 book 'The Making of a Counter Culture', which analyzed youthful rebellion against technocratic society. It shares its roots with words such as 'cultivate' and 'agriculture' on one side, and 'counterattack' and 'contrast' on the other.
Related word forms
How counterculture is actually used
Counterculture is typically used as a mass noun and often carries a sympathetic or romantic connotation, though it can also be used neutrally or critically depending on context. It is most strongly associated with mid-20th-century Western youth movements, especially the 1960s, but is applied to any era's oppositional subgroups.
Easily confused with counterculture
The hyphenated form is simply an older or variant spelling of the same word; the unhyphenated 'counterculture' is now standard.