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

The Times on Friday filed a countersuit against the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, claiming that a reverse discrimination claim was in fact a retaliatory action because of its news reporting. — Ted Johnson, Deadline, 11 July 2026

Hundreds of pages of filings in a civil lawsuit and countersuit detail allegations of fraud and elder abuse, years of adultery, and a battle for property, luxury sports cars and cash. — Amber Gaudet, Charlotte Observer, 10 July 2026

The countersuit follows an EEOC lawsuit filed in May on behalf of a White staffer, Bryant Rousseau, who claimed the Times had denied him a promotion to deputy editor on the basis of his race and gender. — Liam Reilly, CNN Money, 10 July 2026

Baldoni immediately pushed back against her claims with a $400 million countersuit against Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and publicist Leslie Sloane as well as Sloane’s PR firm, accusing them of defamation and breach of contract. — Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 9 July 2026

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