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
Losing patience with Putin, Trump has accused his Russian counterpart of being open to a ceasefire during private conversations, only to carry out attacks on Ukraine afterward.
—
Joey Garrison, USA Today, 28 July 2025
Those traits are evident now in his younger counterpart.
—Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 28 July 2025
Unlike their national counterparts, many rely heavily on federal grants to stay afloat.
—Brandi D. Addison, Austin American Statesman, 27 July 2025
Messi and his Inter Miami teammate Jordi Alba were absent for the event, having originally been selected for the MLS All-Star team for a game to face off against counterparts from Mexico’s Liga MX.
—James Nalton, Forbes.com, 26 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for counterpart
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Joey Garrison, USA Today, 28 July 2025
Those traits are evident now in his younger counterpart.
—Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 28 July 2025
Unlike their national counterparts, many rely heavily on federal grants to stay afloat.
—Brandi D. Addison, Austin American Statesman, 27 July 2025
Messi and his Inter Miami teammate Jordi Alba were absent for the event, having originally been selected for the MLS All-Star team for a game to face off against counterparts from Mexico’s Liga MX.
—James Nalton, Forbes.com, 26 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for counterpart
Cite this Entry
“Counterpart.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/counterpart. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.
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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share