counteradaptation
noun
coun·ter·ad·ap·ta·tion
ˌkau̇n-tər-ˌa-ˌdap-ˈtā-shən 
-dəp-
variants
or counter-adaptation
plural counteradaptations or counter-adaptations
1
: adaptation of an organism (as in modification of behavior, physiology, or form) in response to an adaptation of another organism with which it regularly interacts
counteradaptation of insect pests in response to novel defensive chemicals produced by plant hosts
also
: a favorable trait that arises as a result of counteradaptation
counteradaptations serving as a selective force to future change
2
: opposition to the effect of a drug or stimulus that is hypothesized to develop in an organism as a mechanism to maintain homeostasis
counteradaptive
adjective
or counter-adaptive
counteradaptive processes
counteradaptive coevolution
Cite this Entry
“Counteradaptation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/counteradaptation. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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