countersuit

noun

coun·​ter·​suit ˈkau̇n-tər-ˌsüt 

variants or less commonly counter-suit

plural countersuits also counter-suits

: an opposing lawsuit

especially : a claim asserted by an opposing party in a lawsuit (such as a defendant) against the party bringing the original lawsuit (such as a plaintiff) : counterclaim

decided to file a countersuit against her accuser

The current appeal results from a patent infringement suit and countersuit between Apple Inc. ("Apple") and Samsung Electronics Co …

—Apple, Inc. v. Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., 816 F. 3d 788 (2016)

Examples of countersuit in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

That lawsuit, along with a countersuit by the PGA Tour, was dismissed a year later. —Tim Reynolds, Chicago Tribune, 1 May 2026

In her countersuit, Heard won one of the three defamation counts, and she was awarded $2 million in damages. —Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 27 Apr. 2026

Within the same month the lawsuit was filed, Robinson filed a $500 million countersuit accusing the former housekeepers of defamation, false light, financial elder abuse, conversion, and invasion of privacy. —Julie Sharp, CBS News, 23 Apr. 2026

The countersuit asked for at least $1 million in damages. —Kiana Mickles, Pitchfork, 23 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1814, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for countersuit

• absolute
• arrowroot
• attribute
• bitterroot
• constitute
• convolute
• destitute
• disrepute
• dissolute
• execute
• institute
• involute