opposite number

A person who holds a position in an organization or system corresponding to that of a person in another organization or system; a counterpart: "had a face-to-face ... conference with his opposite number at the American Embassy" (Frederick Forsyth).

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

opposite number

a person holding an equivalent and corresponding position on another side or situation

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

op′posite num′ber

counterpart; equivalent.

[1905–10]

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Noun

opposite number - a person or thing having the same function or characteristics as another

counterpart, vis-a-vis

equivalent - a person or thing equal to another in value or measure or force or effect or significance etc; "send two dollars or the equivalent in stamps"

match - something that resembles or harmonizes with; "that tie makes a good match with your jacket"

mismatch - a bad or unsuitable match

complement - either of two parts that mutually complete each other

opposite number

noun equivalent, equal, peer, counterpart, correspondent The Defence Minister is to visit Japan for talks with his Japanese opposite number.

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

opposite number

noun

One that has the same functions and characteristics as another:

counterpart, vis-à-vis.

Translations

opposite number

n → Pendant nt

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

opposite number

n → omologo/a, controparte f

Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

Mentioned in

References in classic literature

So I said: "Why on earth didn't you see your Opposite Number in Town instead of bringing your office work here?"

His Opposite Number worked at it like a mule--a bewildered mule, beaten from behind, coaxed from in front, and propped on either soft side by Lord Lundie of the compressed mouth and the searing tongue.

View in context

Merge all the miskicks, nutmegs and dropped crosses into one and it doesn't come close to the agony of losing a goal to your opposite number.

A goalie goal No.1 nightmare; Loony Joons

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah with his Algerian opposite number Abdelkader Messahel KUWAIT, Sept.

Kuwaiti, Algerian FMs mull bolstering ties

Production company Mammoth Screen was allegedly targeted in 2014 after revealing plans for thriller Opposite Number, which would "blow the lid off " the rogue state.

'North Korea tried to hack Poldark firm'

His opposite number, teenager Taju Atta, applied himself admirably but was swotted aside by the Irish 14 when he registered his side's second try of the afternoon.

LONDON IRISH v WASPS 5 THINGS WE LEARNED

He outlined that he will meet his Chinese opposite number to review spheres of joint cooperation and means for implementation of the agreements signed by the two countries .

Minister of Agriculture starts China visit tomorrow to participate in Conference of United Nations Convention on Desertification

His opposite number, Anthony Belleau, had already missed the target with two shots at goal and Wales held a 6-0 lead at the break.

Welsh youngsters head for Bristol in bid for crown; WALES UNDER-20S.................................................16 FRANCE UNDER-20S..............................................10

ONE of those penalties was conceded by a late tip tackle from Dan Lydiate on opposite number Aaron Shingler.

SMALL MARGINS; THE BIG WEST WALES DERBY DEBRIEF

BILLY Vunipola will resume a rivalry with opposite number Toby Faletau that first began when scrapping as youngsters in their back gardens.

It's just like being in our old back yard says Vunipola

Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith is blamed by his Labour opposite number Rachel Reeves for the waste.

FRAUD COSTS 3 TIMES BED TAX SAVINGS; PS1.4bn lost to dodgy benefit claims and mistakes; EXCLUSIVE