counter-password

English

Alternative forms

• counterpassword
• counter password

Etymology

From counter- +‎ password.

Noun

counter-password (plural counter-passwords)

1. The response to a password, which identities the person to whom the password is given as the correct contact.
   • 2007, Rachel Held Evans, Larry Richards, The Book of Mark, →ISBN, page cxvi:

     All this is the cultural equivalent of spy movies in which the hero must look for a man wearing a green carnation, mumble, “The thrush flies at midnight,” and listen for the counter-password.

   • 2010, David Crump, Conflict of Interest, →ISBN:

     He had rehearsed his own counter-password over and over again throughout that time, as he nervously looked at his watch and wondered what could have gone wrong.

   • 2014, Peter Pook, Pook's Class War, →ISBN:

     Give him the password 'Charlton Athletic for the Cup', and he will give the counter-password 'Tottenham Hotspurs for the League'.

   • 2016, Jim Nicholson, George-3-7th Marines, →ISBN:

     We had an angry dialogue for a couple of minutes and could not establish the password and counter-password.