1. a reform undertaken in opposition to or as a reaction against another reform, especially the Catholic Church's response to the Protestant Reformation in the 16th–17th centuries
Usage: often capitalized when referring to the historical Counter-Reformation; historical

1. to undertake or implement a reform in response to or opposition against a previous reform
Usage: less common than the noun form

Examples

• The Counter-Reformation was the Catholic Church's counterreform to the spread of Protestantism.
• The Council of Trent played a central role in the counterreform movement of the 16th century.
• Many bishops worked to counterreform their dioceses by strengthening clerical education and discipline.
• The counterreform emphasized renewed devotion and the reaffirmation of Catholic doctrine.
• Historians debate whether the counterreform was primarily defensive or genuinely transformative.