Counterpart

Pronunciation

Origin

Recorded since 1451, originally as countre part "duplicate of a legal document", from Old French contrepartie, itself from contre "facing, opposite" (from Latin contra 'against') + partie "copy of a person or thing," originally past participle of partir "to divide".

Full definition of counterpart

Noun

1. Either of two parts that fit together, or complement one another.''Those brass knobs and their hollow counterparts interlock perfectly
• 2012, November 7, Matt Bai, Winning a Second Term, Obama Will Confront Familiar Headwinds, Mr. Obama never found a generational counterpart among conservatives in Congress like Paul D. Ryan or Eric Cantor; instead, there was a mutual animosity.
2. (legal) A duplicate of a legal document.
3. One which resembles another
4. One which has corresponding functions or characteristics.
• 2011, November 12, , International friendly: England 1-0 Spain, England's attacking impetus was limited to one shot from Lampard that was comfortably collected by keeper Iker Casillas, but for all Spain's domination of the ball his England counterpart Joe Hart was unemployed.

Synonyms

• equivalent
• opposite number
• pendant

Related terms

• counterbalance
• counterpoint
• countersign
• counterweight
• partner