Countersuit

/ˌkaʊntərˈsuːt/ noun

Definition

A legal action or lawsuit filed in response to another lawsuit; a competing legal claim brought by the defendant.

Etymology

From counter- + suit (from Old French suite, meaning a following or pursuit). A legal term for responsive litigation strategies.

Kelly Says

When someone sues you, countersuit is your legal weapon—you don't just defend, you attack back with your own claims. Famous countersuit victories sometimes result in plaintiffs owing defendants money, completely reversing the original intent. It's why litigation sometimes called 'mutual destruction.'

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.