Definition
Rotation in the direction opposite to the movement of a clock's hands. When viewed from a stated reference point, the rotation proceeds from the top, to the left, to the bottom, to the right, and back to the top.
Plain English
Turning the opposite way to the hands of a clock — left at the top, down on the left side, right at the bottom, up on the right side.
Context Anchor
Seen in FAA abbreviation lists, maintenance notes, diagrams, equipment instructions, and other written aviation directions where space is limited.
Derivation
‘Counter’ comes from Latin contra, meaning ‘against’ or ‘opposite to.’ So counterclockwise literally means ‘against the clock’ — the opposite direction to the way clock hands move.
Why Pilots Care
Direction of rotation matters operationally — left-hand traffic patterns, the circulation around low-pressure systems, and the turn direction in some published procedures are all described this way. Reading it wrong can put you turning the wrong way.
Intuition Check
Counterclockwise does not always mean “turn left.” It means opposite the direction of clock hands from the viewpoint being used.
Example Sentence 1
In the Northern Hemisphere, winds circulate counterclockwise around a low-pressure system.
Example Sentence 2
Turn the altitude bug CCLKWS to decrease the selected altitude.