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
Yet European governments have rapidly pivoted from designating HTS leaders as terrorists to treating them as governing counterparts.
—
Güney Yıldız, Forbes.com, 24 Jan. 2026
Then a postdoctoral fellow at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Gerber and her team found that dolphins with stronger long-term social partnerships were biologically younger than their more solitary counterparts, as measured by epigenetic markers.
—Hasmik Kirakosyan, Scientific American, 23 Jan. 2026
Five women staring down various midlife crises, including, but not limited to, menopause, decide to form a rock band, a move normally reserved for their male counterparts.
—Yvonne Villarreal, Los Angeles Times, 23 Jan. 2026
His presence has forced opposing quarterbacks to pick on his counterpart on the other side of the field, fellow cornerback Riley Moss.
—Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 23 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for counterpart
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Güney Yıldız, Forbes.com, 24 Jan. 2026
Then a postdoctoral fellow at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Gerber and her team found that dolphins with stronger long-term social partnerships were biologically younger than their more solitary counterparts, as measured by epigenetic markers.
—Hasmik Kirakosyan, Scientific American, 23 Jan. 2026
Five women staring down various midlife crises, including, but not limited to, menopause, decide to form a rock band, a move normally reserved for their male counterparts.
—Yvonne Villarreal, Los Angeles Times, 23 Jan. 2026
His presence has forced opposing quarterbacks to pick on his counterpart on the other side of the field, fellow cornerback Riley Moss.
—Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 23 Jan. 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 28 Jan. 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
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