counterpart

counterpart — noun

1. someone in a different organization, country, or system whose job or position is

1.nounB2
Definition

someone in a different organization, country, or system whose job or position is similar or equal to yours; also, an object that fills a matching role in a different context

Example

The CEO met with her Japanese counterpart to discuss the merger terms.

possessive: [person]'s counterpart in [place]

Salma's counterpart at the Beijing office sent her the updated budget report.

Common collocations
  • her/his/their counterpart
  • counterpart in/at [place/organization]
  • meet with one's counterpart
  • [nationality] counterpart
  • direct counterpart
  • female counterpart
Synonyms
  • equivalent

    broader in scope; can apply to value, amount, or meaning, not just roles

  • opposite number

    informal, especially British English; same meaning in professional contexts

  • peer

    focuses on equal rank or status rather than matching function across organizations

Grammar Patterns

possessive + counterpart + in/at [location]

[nationality] + counterpart

Usage Note

Often used with a possessive determiner (her, his, their) followed by 'in' or 'at' to indicate the other location or organization. Common in professional, political, and international contexts.

Common Mistakes

I met my counterpart from the same department.
I met my colleague from the same department.
'counterpart' refers to someone with a similar role in a different organization, not the same one.

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

These four words all describe someone or something that matches another, but they differ in scope and register. 'Counterpart' is the most specific: it means a person or thing with the same function in a different setting — for instance, the US Secretary of State and her Chinese counterpart. 'Equivalent' is broader: it can refer to value ('an equivalent amount'), meaning, or status without requiring the same role in a different organization. 'Opposite number' is an informal British expression with the same meaning as 'counterpart' ('my opposite number at the Paris office'). 'Peer' emphasises equal rank rather than matching function, and is commonly used within the same organisation ('she was respected by her peers'). For organisational role-matching, 'counterpart' is the most precise choice.

counterpart ↗equivalent ↗opposite numberpeer ↗

Common collocations

Phrases

  • direct counterpart
  • exact counterpart
  • female counterpart
  • male counterpart
  • local counterpart
  • foreign counterpart

Prepositions

Etymology

FrenchEnglish

From French 'contrepartie', meaning a duplicate or matching copy, formed from 'contre-' (against, opposite) and 'partie' (part, share). The word originally referred to a duplicate legal document; in the 1800s it broadened to describe a person or thing that corresponds to another in role or function.