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

But Taverner’s issues with her Russian counterpart, Vassily, are not over, and nothing is settled in the closing sequence where River’s romantic moment with Sid is drastically short-circuited. — Scott Tobias, Vulture, 21 Oct. 2026

The thread also indicates the account was previously approved by a China Webull team member and an American counterpart. — Eamon Javers,tanaya MacHeel, CNBC, 21 Oct. 2026

Moran, who has served in the Senate since 2011, has not publicly endorsed Marshall’s campaign or touted any recent appearances with his Republican counterpart. — Jack Harvel, Kansas City Star, 20 Oct. 2026

Today’s counterparts are frontier AI companies such as OpenAI and Anthropic, which command the human talent, data, models, and finance on which advanced intelligence depends. — Niall Ferguson, Foreign Affairs, 20 Oct. 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