counterpart

noun

coun·​ter·​part ˈkau̇n-tər-ˌpärt 

1

: one of two corresponding copies of a legal instrument : duplicate

2

a

: a thing that fits another perfectly

b

: something that completes : complement

the lead actress and her male counterpart

3

a

: one remarkably similar to another

The crow is sometimes mistaken for its larger counterpart, the raven.

b

: one having the same function or characteristics as another

college presidents and their counterparts in business

Synonyms of counterpart

• equivalent

Examples of counterpart in a Sentence

The secretary of defense met with his counterparts in Asia to discuss the nuclear crisis.

Metal tools replaced their stone counterparts many, many years ago.

the lead actress and her male counterpart

Recent Examples on the Web

Araghchi traveled to Muscat on Saturday for a meeting with his Omani counterpart. — CNN Money, 12 July 2026

Older citizens are also often more politically active than their younger counterparts. — Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 11 July 2026

The biotech company is in the early stages of developing an experimental implant of semaglutide, the active ingredient in Novo Nordisk's blockbuster obesity injection Wegovy and diabetes counterpart Ozempic. — Annika Kim Constantino, CNBC, 11 July 2026

Watching their live-action counterparts run it back is a slog. — Brian Truitt, USA Today, 11 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for counterpart

• apart
• depart
• flowchart
• forepart
• impart
• pushcart
• rampart
• redstart
• restart
• subpart
• sweetheart
• upstart

Kids Definition

counterpart

noun

coun·​ter·​part ˈkau̇nt-ər-ˌpärt 

1

: a part or thing that matches another

the left arm is the counterpart of the right

2

: something that serves to complete something else : complement

3

: a person closely resembling another

Legal Definition

counterpart

noun

coun·​ter·​part ˈkau̇n-tər-ˌpärt 

: one of two corresponding or duplicate copies of a legal instrument