Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

counterpart

/ˈkaʊntɚˌpɑɹt/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: 3.70 in modern English

Syllables: coun-ter-part
IPA: /ˈkaʊntɚˌpɑɹt/

15

Scrabble Score

11

Letters

3

Syllables

9

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

Either of two parts that fit together or otherwise complement one another.

noun

A duplicate of a legal document.

noun

One who or that which resembles another.

noun

One who or that which has corresponding functions or characteristics.

noun

Either half of a flattened fossil when the rock has split along the plane of the fossil.

verb

To counterbalance.

Transitive verb

Example Sentences

"Near-synonyms: complement, mate"
"Those brass knobs and their hollow counterparts interlock perfectly."
"Mr. Obama never found a generational counterpart among conservatives in Congress like Paul D. Ryan or Eric Cantor; instead, there was a mutual animosity."
"Near-synonyms: (each contextually synonymous) opposite number, counterparty, opponent, homolog, homotype, equivalent, partner, vis-à-vis"
"Her French counterpart attended the meeting via video call."
"The two companies are working together with their respective counterparts in Asia."

Etymology

From Middle English conterpart, countre parte (“duplicate of a legal document”), equivalent to counter- + part. Compare Old French contrepartie, itself from contre (“facing, opposite”) (from Latin contra (“against”)) + partie (“copy of a person or thing”) (originally past participle of partīre (“to divide”)).

Origin

Source language: Middle English

Word Breakdown

Root: conterpart

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ˈkaʊntɚˌpɑɹt/
British English: /ˈkaʊntəˌpɑːt/

Usage

Transitive verb

Inflected Forms

counterparts (plural) counterparts (present, singular) counterparting (participle, present) counterparted (participle, past) counterparted (past)

Phrases

counterpart theory alter ego spitting image

Frequently Paired Words

counterbalance counterpoint countersign counterweight alter ego spitting image decoy substitute

Synonyms

complement mate opposite number counterparty opponent homolog homotype equivalent partner vis-à-vis counterpart parallel

Questions

How do you pronounce counterpart?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈkaʊntɚˌpɑɹt/.
What does counterpart mean?: Either of two parts that fit together or otherwise complement one another.
Where does counterpart come from?: It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce counterpart

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “counterpart”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈkaʊntɚˌpɑɹt/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “counterpart”.
Repeat and practice — Say “counterpart” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.