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
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
The neighborhood/area Bilbao has an industrial character that is both more modern and more traditional than its popular counterpart, San Sebastián, and the Artist sits in the revitalized upper edge of the Abando District.
—
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 June 2026
The head is brown to black and has several ivory to yellowish spots, which helps separate it from its native counterpart, the smoke-tree sharpshooter.
—Seamus Bozeman
follow, Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2026
As the Jim Jacobses and John Deckers were shooting the last elk of Pennsylvania, their western counterparts were doing their part to exterminate the species continent-wide.
—Literary Hub, 10 June 2026
Everything first lady occupies multiple floors, including a small theater showing films, and rotating and themed exhibits exploring the influence and legacies of presidential counterparts throughout American history.
—Usa Today Network, USA Today, 10 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for counterpart
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 June 2026
The head is brown to black and has several ivory to yellowish spots, which helps separate it from its native counterpart, the smoke-tree sharpshooter.
—Seamus Bozeman
follow, Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2026
As the Jim Jacobses and John Deckers were shooting the last elk of Pennsylvania, their western counterparts were doing their part to exterminate the species continent-wide.
—Literary Hub, 10 June 2026
Everything first lady occupies multiple floors, including a small theater showing films, and rotating and themed exhibits exploring the influence and legacies of presidential counterparts throughout American history.
—Usa Today Network, USA Today, 10 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for counterpart
Cite this Entry
“Counterpart.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/counterpart. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
