Dictionary definition of “counter-recruiter”

counter-recruiter

n. a person who, as a practice of belief or profession, tries to counteract enlistment efforts of the military. Subjects: English, Military

Editorial Note: This term has been nominated in the American Dialect Society’s 16th annual Words of the Year vote. The ADS vote is the granddaddy of all such votes: it is the longest-running, least commercial, and most democratic.

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Citations: 1978 Al Martinez Los Angeles Times (July 17) “Army Tries to Revise Image in Recruiting”: To combat that “desperation recruiting,” a Philadelphia-based organization has trained 300 “counter-recruiters” to follow Army recruiters to high schools across the country and offer students “a second version of the truth about enlistment.” 1991 Beth Shuster L.A. Daily News (N1) (Jan. 23) “School Board Votes To Stop Selling Names To Recruiters”: The board’s action was praised by a counter-recruiter for the American Friends Service Committee, a Quaker organization. 2004 Leslie Fulbright Seattle Times (June 3) “Eastside group warns parents of military recruiting in schools” p. B1: The Bellevue father and some other Eastside parents are working to get the word out about recruiting activities in schools at a time they feel the armed forces are aggressively targeting their children. The parents are among a growing number of “counter-recruiters” nationwide. 2005 David Shrauger Living Iraq Journal (May 30) “Memories”: When I read about “Counter recruiters” hovering outside their offices trying to talk kids out of it I get frustrated. These “Counter Recruiters” may think that they are doing the right thing by the young men and women that they are dissuading from service, but what they are really doing is hurting soldiers.

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