Gegenmaß

Gegenmaß is a German noun formed from gegen ("against" or "counter") and Maß ("measure"), used to denote a countermeasure, corrective action, or balancing step taken in response to an earlier action or condition. The term can appear in political, economic, legal, technical, and everyday contexts to describe measures intended to neutralize, compensate for, or retaliate against an effect or threat.

In political and economic discourse, Gegenmaß often refers to retaliatory or offsetting policies such as tariffs, sanctions, or regulatory adjustments implemented in response to perceived unfair practices or external pressures. In legal contexts it may denote procedural or remedial steps aimed at addressing harm or restoring a prior state. In technical and engineering settings the word can describe interventions intended to balance forces or correct deviations, for example adjustments made to stabilize a system.

Gegenmaß is related to and sometimes used interchangeably with longer forms such as Gegenmaßnahme (countermeasure) or Gegenmittel (counteragent), though usage varies by register and specificity. Its connotations range from defensive and corrective to punitive, depending on context. English translations include countermeasure, corrective measure, balancing measure, or offset. The concept emphasizes a responsive action aimed at countering an identified effect rather than initiating independent policy or design.