Word
counterpart
Phoneticscoun·ter·part, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈkaʊntɝˌpɑɹt/
UK/kˈaʊntəpˌɑːt/
Definitions
01equivalent person or thing
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Formal
n. someone or something that has the same job or purpose as another person or thing in a different place.
n. a person or thing holding a position or performing a function that corresponds to that of another person or thing in another area.
“The prime minister met with his French counterpart to discuss the new trade deal.”
“The CEO of the startup spent the afternoon consulting with her counterpart at the established firm to compare operational strategies.”
Usage
Often used with the possessive (his, her, its) or the preposition 'of'.
Synonyms
02matching part
C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Formal · Literary
n. one of two parts that fit together or complete each other.
n. one of two parts which complement or complete each other; a thing that forms a natural pair with another.
Español:contrapartida
“The left earring was lost, and she could not find its counterpart anywhere.”
“The architect designed the north wing as a modern counterpart to the original Victorian structure, balancing old and new materials.”
Synonyms
03legal duplicate
C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Law Technical · Formal
n. an exact copy of a legal document.
n. a duplicate or copy of a legal deed or document, often executed so that each party may have a copy.
“Each person signed a counterpart of the contract so they both had a record.”
“The agreement was executed in several counterparts, each of which was deemed an original but all of which together constituted one instrument.”
Antonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “counterpart” in context.
Verb
01. consult with a counterpart
“The detective had to consult with his counterpart in the French police to track the suspect.”
verb + prep + noun
02. match a counterpart
“The sales figures for this quarter barely match their counterparts from last year.”
verb + noun
Adjective
03. civilian counterpart
“Military doctors often consult with their civilian counterparts on complex surgical cases.”
adj + noun
04. foreign counterpart
“The Prime Minister met with his foreign counterpart to discuss the new trade agreement.”
adj + noun
05. male counterpart
“Female executives in this industry often earn less than their male counterparts.”
adj + noun
Noun
06. counterpart in the industry
“She is more highly respected than any other counterpart in the industry.”
noun + prep + noun
Real-World Examples
“Fischer, who played Dawn's counterpart on the US version of the show, Pam Beesly, praised Davis for her "beautiful post".” “The Ulchi Freedom Shield drills will include 18,000 South Korean soldiers and counterparts from the 28,500-strong US contingent in the country.” “Gut strings and original woodwind and brass are more pungent than their modern counterparts, but they sometimes struggle to summon the weight necessary for Bruckner.” “Stephen Doughty, who currently holds the role in the Foreign Office, has also been in touch with his counterparts.” Etymology
From Middle English conterpart, countre parte (“duplicate of a legal document”), equivalent to counter- + part. Compare Old French contrepartie, itself from contre (“facing, opposite”) (from Latin contra (“against”)) + partie (“copy of a person or thing”) (originally past participle of partīre (“to divide”)).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/counterpart
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0