opposite number

American  

noun

1. counterpart; equivalent.

   New members with an interest in folk art will find their opposite numbers in the association's directory.

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opposite number British  

noun

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

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Etymology

Origin of opposite number

First recorded in 1905–10

Example Sentences

George's opposite number Owens reflected on a "horrendous" week, adding: "We need to focus on getting a result to put some pride back into the shirt, and try to finish this saga on a positive."

From BBC

Martinez will remember this particular match more fondly, on account of it being his signature achievement to date; by contrast, it went some way to costing his opposite number their job.

From The Guardian

His opposite number, in St. Petersburg, was his contemporary Andrei Andreyevich Markov, an atheist and a bitter enemy of the church.

From Scientific American

Mr Barnier watched his opposite numbers come and go as the EU and UK first agonised over the terms of a transition deal and then later concluded a trade agreement.

From BBC

“I’m very respectful of what Steve Bruce has done in the game and what he continues to do,” said Villa’s manager, upon being asked about his opposite number.

From The Guardian

Related Words

• antagonist
• attacker
• competitor
• enemy
• foe
• opponent
• rival