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

Now, Robinson has filed a countersuit against the plaintiffs, accusing them of defamation and seeking $500 million in damages. —Madison Bloom, Pitchfork, 29 May 2025

Smollett denied the accusations and filed a countersuit against the city, but he was indicted by a grand jury on 16 felony charges. —EW.com, 25 May 2025

Baldoni denied the allegations and filed a countersuit in January alleging defamation and extortion against Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds and their publicity team. —Benjamin Vanhoose, People.com, 22 May 2025

Meanwhile, Heard won $2 million in damages from her countersuit over Depp's lawyer calling her claims a hoax. —Marco Della Cava, USA Today, 19 May 2025

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