counterproductive

/ˌkɑʊnt·ər·prəˈdʌk·tɪv/ adj

Definition

› having an effect that is the opposite of what you intend or desire: As a way to improve traffic, widening roads can be counterproductive, as it may just encourage more people to drive.

(Definition of counterproductive adj from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

+ Free Dictionary Toolbar for Browsers
+ Add Dictionary Search to iGoogle and your website

+ Become a fan on Facebook
+ Follow us on Twitter!

Our dictionaries

British English
American English
Business English
Learner's Dictionary
Essential British English
Essential American English
English-Spanish
Español-inglés
English-Turkish

Browse the Thesaurus

Business
Clothes
Education
Finance
Light and colour
Personal care

“counterproductive” in other dictionaries

in Spanish
in Turkish

British English
Business English
Learner's

Browse the Dictionary

counteract v
counterattack n
counterclockwise adj, adv
counterfeit adj
counterpart n
counterproductive adj
counterterrorism n
countless adj
country and western n
country club n
country n NATURAL LAND

Word of the Day

hold water

If a reason, argument or explanation holds water, it is true

Word of the Day ►

Blog

Read our blog about how the English language behaves.

Learn More ►

New Words

Find words and meanings that have just started to be used in English, and let us know what you think of them.