counterweight

American  

[koun-ter-weyt] / ˈkaʊn tərˌweɪt /

noun

1. a weight used as a counterbalance.

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verb (used with object)

1. to balance or equip with a counterweight.

counterweight British  

/ ˈkaʊntəˌweɪt /

noun

1. a counterbalancing weight, influence, or force

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Other Word Forms

• counterweighted adjective

Etymology

Origin of counterweight

First recorded in 1685–95; counter- + weight

Example Sentences

At the Blue Note, Jean performs a kind of Haitian exceptionalism: a sensorially rich, festal theater that serves as a necessary counterweight to the country’s grim realities of poverty and political neglect.

From Los Angeles Times

As a historical counterweight, consider Jonas Salk, the inventor of the polio vaccine, who refused to patent it.

From Los Angeles Times

Back then it was seen as a good counterweight to tech and fairly Amazon-proof to boot.

From The Wall Street Journal

In that context, his willingness to speak plainly without resorting to spectacle underscores his enduring role as a moral counterweight in an increasingly volatile political landscape.

From Salon

When asked about Germany's support for Israel at a press conference on Thursday, Wenders said: "We cannot really enter the field of politics", describing filmmakers as "the counterweight to politics".

From Barron's

Related Words

• equilibrium