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

While Shark stick vacuums typically have less powerful motors than their upright counterparts, their suction is still plenty strong enough for most users. — Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 20 July 2026

At the executive level, Payscale found women earn just 69 cents for every dollar their male counterparts earn, down from 72 cents the year before, 2025. — Kara Dennison, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026

Europe’s champions take on their South American counterparts. — Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 20 July 2026

Most spaghetti eaters are not routinely making it from scratch -- not even the contemporary Italian, who is as busy with the demands of modern life as their foreign counterpart, and not even the grandmas. — Natalie B. Compton The Washington Post, Arkansas Online, 19 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