countersuit

noun

coun·​ter·​suit ˈkau̇n-tər-ˌsüt 

variants or less commonly counter-suit

plural countersuits also counter-suits

: an opposing lawsuit

especially : a claim asserted by an opposing party in a lawsuit (such as a defendant) against the party bringing the original lawsuit (such as a plaintiff) : counterclaim

decided to file a countersuit against her accuser

The current appeal results from a patent infringement suit and countersuit between Apple Inc. ("Apple") and Samsung Electronics Co …

—Apple, Inc. v. Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., 816 F. 3d 788 (2016)

Examples of countersuit in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Kate Williams, chef and co-owner of celebrated restaurant Lady of the House, has filed a countersuit against the restaurant’s co-owner and investor Jason Singer, who is suing her in Oakland County Circuit Court. —Lyndsay C. Green, Freep.com, 26 Sep. 2025

City officials filed a lawsuit, and Smollett a countersuit. —Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 26 Sep. 2025

His $400 million countersuit for defamation and extortion was dismissed in June. —Elizabeth Rosner, PEOPLE, 18 Sep. 2025

Baldoni has launched a countersuit, alleging defamation and extortion. —EW.com, 29 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1814, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for countersuit

• absolute
• arrowroot
• attribute
• bitterroot
• constitute
• convolute
• destitute
• disrepute
• dissolute
• execute
• institute
• involute