obverse

1 of 2

adjective

ob·​verse äb-ˈvərs How to pronounce obverse (audio)
əb-,
ˈäb-ˌvərs How to pronounce obverse (audio)
1
: facing the observer or opponent
2
: having the base narrower than the top
an obverse leaf
3
: constituting the obverse of something : opposite
obversely adverb

obverse

2 of 2

noun

ob·​verse ˈäb-ˌvərs How to pronounce obverse (audio) äb-ˈvərs How to pronounce obverse (audio)
əb-ˈvərs
1
: the side of a coin or currency note bearing the chief device and lettering
broadly : a front or principal surface
2
: a counterpart having the opposite orientation or force
their rise was merely the obverse of the Empire's fallA. J. Toynbee
also : opposite sense 1
joy and its obverse, sorrow
3
: a proposition inferred immediately from another by denying the opposite of what the given proposition affirms
the obverse of "all A is B" is "no A is not B" 

Did you know?

Heads or tails? If you called heads, obverse is the word for you. Since the 17th century, we've been using obverse for the front side of coins (usually the side depicting the head or bust of a prominent person). The opposite of this sense of obverse is reverse, the back or tails side of a coin. Since the 19th century, obverse has referred to an opposing counterpart or an opposite. Additionally, it can be an adjective meaning "facing the observer or opponent" or "being a counterpart or complement."

Examples of obverse in a Sentence

Noun joy and its obverse, sadness We thought they would be pleased with our decision. We have learned, however, that the obverse is true.
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
The obverse side will still feature the portrait of former President George Washington by Laura Gardin Fraser. Jordan D. Brown, Baltimore Sun, 3 Aug. 2023 The answer, perhaps, was shame: What Ernaux seemed to have understood from the start is that shame is the obverse side of truth. Rachel Cusk, New York Times, 2 May 2023
Noun
According to one estimate, 96 percent of the world’s population speaks just four percent of all languages, which means that the striking obverse is also true: just four percent of the world’s population speaks 96 percent of all languages. Ross Perlin, Foreign Affairs, 23 Apr. 2024 But the two scary-sounding facts have happy-sounding obverses. Dominic Pino, National Review, 10 Jan. 2024 See all Example Sentences for obverse 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'obverse.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Latin obversus, from past participle of obvertere to turn toward, from ob- toward + vertere to turn — more at ob-, worth

First Known Use

Adjective

circa 1656, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1658, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of obverse was circa 1656

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Cite this Entry

“Obverse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/obverse. Accessed 11 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

obverse

noun
ob·​verse
ˈäb-ˌvərs,
äb-ˈvərs
1
: the side of something (as a coin) bearing the principal design or lettering
2
: a front or principal surface
3
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