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

Nowhere near any potential settlement, and with Baldoni on the back foot after Monday’s dismissal of his $400 million countersuit against Lively, Ryan Reynolds and others, Lively vs. Baldoni is set to go to trial on March 9, 2026 in federal court in New York City. —Dominic Patten, Deadline, 10 June 2025

Baldoni in January filed a $400 million defamation countersuit against Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds and publicist Leslie Sloane, also accusing them of civil extortion. —Jami Ganz, New York Daily News, 4 June 2025

Baldoni responded with a $400 million defamation countersuit that named not only Lively but also her husband, Ryan Reynolds, their publicist and later Taylor Swift. —Gemma Allen, Forbes.com, 25 May 2025

Baldoni denied the allegations and, in January, filed a countersuit, alleging defamation and extortion against Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds and their publicity team. —Martha Ross, Mercury News, 14 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