counterbalance

American  

[koun-ter-bal-uhns, koun-ter-bal-uhns] / ˈkaʊn tərˌbæl əns, ˌkaʊn tərˈbæl əns /

noun

1. a weight balancing another weight; an equal weight, power, or influence acting in opposition; counterpoise.

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verb (used with or without object)

counterbalanced, counterbalancing

1. to act against or oppose with an equal weight, force, or influence; offset.

   Synonyms:

   balance, rectify, countervail, correct

counterbalance British  

noun

1. a weight or force that balances or offsets another

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verb

1. to act as a counterbalance

Other Word Forms

• uncounterbalanced adjective

Etymology

Origin of counterbalance

First recorded in 1570–80; counter- + balance

Example Sentences

“This factor acts as a counterbalance to geopolitical optimism, limiting the magnitude of upward moves.”

From Barron's • Mar. 25, 2026

Because the wealthy are ideologically diverse, their participation can counterbalance these different forms of elite power.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 24, 2026

A classical stadium at its end would counterbalance the Greek-temple-inspired Lincoln Memorial at the opposite terminus.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 20, 2026

Societies would need to eliminate all emissions they reasonably can, then counterbalance the "residual" emissions that cannot be removed.

From Science Daily • Nov. 20, 2025

To counterbalance the effect of these new political allies, the authorities also put a handful of common-law prisoners in our section.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela

Related Words

• counteract
• outweigh
• rectify