counterpart

American  

[koun-ter-pahrt] / ˈkaʊn tərˌpɑrt /

noun

counterparts plural

1. a person or thing closely resembling another, especially in function.

   Our president is the counterpart of your prime minister.

2. a copy; duplicate.

3. Law. a duplicate or copy of an indenture.

4. one of two parts that fit, complete, or complement one another.

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counterpart British  

/ ˈkaʊntəˌpɑːt /

noun

1. a person or thing identical to or closely resembling another

2. one of two parts that complement or correspond to each other

3. a person acting opposite another in a play

4. a duplicate, esp of a legal document; copy

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• counterparts
  plural

Etymology

Origin of counterpart

late Middle English word dating back to 1425–75; see origin at counter-, part

Explanation

If you leap tall buildings in a single bound for the Des Moines branch of your corporation, then your Metropolis counterpart might be Superman. That means you and Superman do similar jobs, but in different locations. The noun counterpart comes from the French word countre part, meaning “duplicate of a legal document.” In legal circles counterpart still means "a duplicate document," but today it is more likely to describe people. Counterparts aren't duplicates, of course, but they have similar skills and responsibilities. If you play soccer, your counterpart is the player on the other team who plays the same position.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

counterpart counterparts

"Australia's huge uranium reserves are directly connected to India's nuclear journey," Modi told a business forum in Melbourne ahead of a summit with his counterpart Anthony Albanese.

From Barron's ● Jul. 9, 2026

Securing a reliable uranium pipeline is expected to be a key topic of discussion when Modi sits down with his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese on Thursday.

From Barron's ● Jul. 8, 2026

His Dutch counterpart, Gen. Onno Eichelsheim, sounded a similar alarm.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 7, 2026

O'Neill said she has spoken to her Stormont executive counterpart Little-Pengelly but added it was "for her to answer for what she knew".

From BBC ● Jul. 7, 2026

The American Negro is a unique creation; he has no counterpart anywhere, and no predecessors.

From "The Fire Next Time" by James Baldwin

Irish police are set to engage with their Jordanian counterparts as part of a murder investigation, according to Ireland's justice minister.

From BBC ● Jul. 13, 2026

While smaller than its counterparts in Orange County or the San Gabriel Valley, the San Fernando Valley has a strong Vietnamese community with churches, temples, civic organizations and even a small magazine, Ma said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 10, 2026

A new type of daily pill has proven more effective for weight loss and blood sugar control than its currently available counterparts, according to a recent trial.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 8, 2026

When one of Carney’s European counterparts mentioned their difficulties with the personalities in the second administration, two Canadian officials said he responded: “I have to deal with these guys every day.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 8, 2026

In the hysteria that followed over Soviet scientists’ apparent outdistancing their American counterparts, a new group of technical advisors was brought into the White House.

From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik