counterclaim

American  

[koun-ter-kleym, koun-ter-kleym] / ˈkaʊn tərˌkleɪm, ˌkaʊn tərˈkleɪm /

noun

1. a claim made to offset another claim, especially one made by the defendant in a legal action.

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verb (used with or without object)

1. to claim so as to offset a previous claim.

counterclaim British  

/ ˈkaʊntəˌkleɪm /

noun

1. a claim set up in opposition to another, esp by the defendant in a civil action against the plaintiff

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verb

1. to set up (a claim) in opposition to another claim

Other Word Forms

• counterclaimant noun

Etymology

Origin of counterclaim

First recorded in 1775–85; counter- + claim

Explanation

When one person sues another in a court of law and the defendant responds by filing their own lawsuit against that person, that's a counterclaim. If your neighbor sues you because you're collecting junky cars in your shared driveway, you might file a counterclaim stating that they stole property when they hauled one of the old cars to the town dump. Another way to use this word is to mean "opposing argument." In a debate, when you state that school lunch should be free for everyone, your opponent may present a counterclaim that the income from selling food helps the school in the long run.

Example Sentences

During that encounter, Shell told Cipriani that he owed him nothing, according to Shell’s counterclaim.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 20, 2026

Shkreli this week filed a counterclaim in federal court in New York against RZA, also known as Robert Diggs, along with Azzougarh and PleasrDAO, a digital art collective that purchased the album.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 6, 2026

The counterclaim cites “allegations Plaintiffs have recently fabricated in support of their extortionate scheme” and comments the accusers’ lawyers allegedly made during a May 6 press conference.

From Los Angeles Times • May 29, 2025

In their court submission, the club's lawyers asserted that the counterclaim was prompted by Mbappe's "deceptive behaviour during negotiations to revise his contract".

From BBC • May 15, 2025

Up stood the jury; and in less than half a minute they found a verdict for the defendant, counterclaim being abandoned, just as Mr. Bumpkin had pushed into Court. 

From The Humourous Story of Farmer Bumpkin's Lawsuit by Harris, Richard

Related Words

• allowance
• benefit
• bonus
• coverage
• earnings
• fee
• indemnity
• pay
• payment
• payoff
• premium
• profit
• redress
• reimbursement
• remittance
• remuneration
• reparation
• restitution
• reward
• salary