Definition

Noun: A person or thing that holds a corresponding position or performs the same function in a different group, organization, or system. It refers to a counterpart.

Usage

This term is commonly used in professional, diplomatic, or organizational contexts to describe the person in another entity whose role mirrors one's own. It implies a direct, functional equivalence.

Examples

• In the merger talks, the CEO met with her opposite number from the other company.
• The general spoke directly to his opposite number in the allied forces to coordinate the strategy.
• As the head of marketing, my opposite number at our main competitor just launched a similar campaign.

Advanced Usage

• The term can sometimes be used more broadly for things, not just people, that serve an equivalent purpose.
  • The new software is intended to be the opposite number of the expensive program we currently use.

Variants and Related Words

• Counterpart (noun): A very close synonym, often used interchangeably with "opposite number."
• Equivalent (noun): Something equal in value, function, or meaning, but it can be more general and less focused on a direct person-to-person correspondence.

Synonyms

• Counterpart
• Peer
• Equivalent
• Colleague (in a similar role elsewhere)

Idioms and Phrases

• (One's) opposite number: This is the standard phrasing. The possessive (my, your, his, her, their) is typically used.
  • You should discuss the budget details with your opposite number in the finance department.

Noun

1. a person or thing having the same function or characteristics as another