A political or social movement organized to oppose and undo a revolution, typically trying to restore the old system that the revolution had overthrown.
From counter- + revolution (a sudden, violent change in government). Revolution comes from Latin revolutio meaning a turning around. Counterrevolution emerged as a distinct concept after the French Revolution, when various groups tried to restore monarchy.
Counterrevolutions often move more slowly and cautiously than revolutions, which makes sense: revolutions are breaking things, counterrevolutions are trying to rebuild them. This is why revolutions often win despite being outnumbered.
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