The Meaning of Counterpart: What It Is and How To Use It

Do you know the definition of counterpart? This article will provide you with all of the information you need on the word counterpart, including its definition, usage, word origin, example sentences, and more!

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What does the word counterpart mean?

According to the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language and other dictionaries like Collins English Dictionary and American Heritage,  The word counterpart is a noun that can refer to one of two corresponding copies of a legal instrument or document, something that completes or fits another perfectly, something that is remarkably similar to something else, or something that has the same function or characteristics as another person or thing. The pronunciation of counterpart is ​ˈkaʊntəpɑːt.

Many different languages have their own words for counterpart. You may notice that some of these words look and sound similar to one another. These are called cognates. Cognates are words that look and sound similar across languages, and also have a similar or the same meaning. These are often formed when two rods have the same root or language of origin. This list of translations is provided by Word Sense

  •  Irish: macasamhail‎ (fem.)
  •  Spanish: homólogo‎ (masc.), homóloga‎ (fem.)
  •  Czech: protějšek‎ (masc.)
  •  French: homologue‎
  •  Russian: (analogue) ана́лог‎ (masc.), (colleague) колле́га‎ (masc.) (f), контраге́нт‎ (masc.)
  •  Maori: hāngaitanga‎
  •  Finnish: vastine‎
  •  Dutch: evenknie‎ (masc.) (f), tegenhanger‎ (masc.), tegenpartij‎ (masc.), tegenspeler‎ (masc.), equivalent‎ (neut.)

What are synonyms and antonyms for the word counterpart?

There are many different words that a person can use in place of the word counterpart. These are called synonyms, which are words and phrases that have the same definition as another given word or phrase. Learning synonyms is a great way to expand your English language vocabulary and avoid repeating yourself. This list of synonyms for the word counterpart is provided by Thesaurus.

  •  spit and image
  •  carbon copy
  •  look alike
  •  spitting image
  •  pendant
  •  duplicate
  •  mate
  •  analogue
  •  equal
  •  obverse
  •  opposite number
  •  match
  •  tally
  •  fellow
  •  two of a kind
  •  copy
  •  ditto
  •  correlate
  •  peas in a pod
  •  supplement
  •  correspondent
  •  like
  •  twin
  •  ringer
  •  equivalent
  •  opposite
  •  correlative
  •  complement
  •  Doppelganger
  •  dead ringer

There are also numerous different words and phrases that mean the opposite of the word counterpart. These opposite words are called antonyms, which are another quick and easy way to expand your English language vocabulary. This list of antonyms for the word counterpart is also provided by Thesaurus.

  •  paradigm
  •  invention
  •  standard
  •  creation
  •  original
  •  model
  •  precedent
  •  forerunner
  •  prototype
  •  coinage
  •  exemplar
  •  type
  •  precursor
  •  pattern
  •  archetype
  •  novelty

What is the origin of the word counterpart?

According to Etymonline, the word counterpart has been used since the mid-15th century to refer to a duplicate of a legal document, in the Middle English countre part. This comes from the Old French contrepartie, from the Latin contra and French partie, meaning a copy of a person or thing. This was originally the feminine past participle of partir, meaning to divide. This word has meant a corresponding part since the 1630s and a doppelganger since the 1670s. It has meant an equivalent since 1903. 

How can the word counterpart be used in a sentence?

The word counterpart can be used in many different sentences in the English language. Below are many examples of counterpart. 

The Americans paid much more for healthcare than their French counterparts, other European counterparts, and Chinese counterpart. 

A new study shows that low-income counterparts have a much shorter life expectancy than cityside liberals and their conservative counterparts. The lifetimes of high-income Americans tend to be much higher, possibly because they can afford to pay a lease if they are a tenant, as well as the rest of their expenses without worry. Stress kills.

The woman was furious when she discovered that she was making 50% less than the male counterpart at her company. They both dealt with the same type of copyright claims and deserved the same payment, but his salary was in a far different place.

The young people who attended Princeton University were all equal counterparts to one another. They all had excellent grades, aced their quizzes, and graduated with honors. 

The contact restrictions imposed on the board women were far different than those imposed on the freelancers. The company felt the two titles were not counterparts and therefore could not be compared.

The treble sax sounded beautiful when played with its bass counterpart. The people at the London, Edinburgh, and Paris shows showed a great regard for the musicians. 

The laws of England were different in a number of ways from their counterparts, the laws of Normandy and their Cambridge counterparts. It is difficult to compare a legal counterpart, since private law is a whole different ball game and a hard fought match. 

The director thought that she knew what she was doing, but children’s theatre was a whole different story. She left the production in her counterpart’s hands. 

The computer’s signatures and search history were parallel on all of the different counterparts machines. Every person at the company had to have the same equal terms for risk management purposes. 

Woman lived a very different life from her transatlantic counterpart and pen pal. Her pen pal came from a line of British pig farmers, while the woman’s parents were professional sociology professors. There was a large discrepancy between their peer income. 

The aim of the council was to create an identical counterpart via cloning. They felt that these modern counterparts would make up for deficiencies in the meat industry. 

Overall, the word counterpart means a copy, esp of a legal document, a complement or correspondent part, or something that is similar to something else. This word is pronounced ˈkaʊntəˌpɑːt. 

Sources:

  1. counterpart: meaning, origin, translation | Word Sense 
  2. ORIGINAL Synonyms: 118 Synonyms & Antonyms for ORIGINAL | Thesaurus 
  3. COUNTERPART Synonyms: 30 Synonyms & Antonyms for COUNTERPART | Thesaurus 
  4. counterpart | Origin and meaning of counterpart | Online Etymology Dictionary).