counteroffer

noun

coun·​ter·​of·​fer ˈkau̇n-tər-ˌȯ-fər 

-ˌä-fər

: a return offer made by one who has rejected an offer

Examples of counteroffer in a Sentence

He turned down the deal and came back with a counteroffer asking for more money.

Recent Examples on the Web

That kind of commitment is built through everyday conversations, meaningful coaching, and consistent investment in people’s development, not during an exit interview or a last-minute counteroffer. — Johnny C. Taylor Jr, USA Today, 4 Aug. 2026

As a counteroffer, Ormund dangles Driftmark in front of Ulf’s greedy eyes. — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 3 Aug. 2026

In its latest counteroffer, Iran has insisted on war reparations, full sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz, the release of frozen Iranian assets and the lifting of economic sanctions. — Sean Conlon,lisa Kailai Han, CNBC, 11 May 2026

Donaldson yells repeatedly from the front passenger seat, only to be rebuffed by the driver, a man identified as 23-year-old Dominick DeSouza, who had his own counteroffer. — Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 23 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1788, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for counteroffer

• spermatophore
• coffer
• offer
• proffer
• scoffer

Legal Definition

counteroffer

noun

coun·​ter·​of·​fer ˈkau̇n-tər-ˌȯ-fər 

: an offer that is made in response to another and that has additional or differing terms

Note: Under common law, a counteroffer does not constitute an acceptance of an offer and is often considered a rejection of the offer.

counteroffer intransitive verb