counterposition
|coun-ter-po-si-tion|
🇺🇸
/ˌkaʊn.tɚ.pəˈzɪʃən/
🇬🇧
/ˌkaʊn.tə.pəˈzɪʃ(ə)n/
placing/opposing in contrast
Etymology
'counterposition' originates from Modern English, formed from the prefix 'counter-' and the noun 'position', where 'counter-' meant 'against' or 'opposite' and 'position' meant 'a placing or place.'
'counter-' derives via Old French 'contre' (meaning 'against') ultimately from Latin 'contra'; 'position' comes from Latin 'positio', from 'ponere' meaning 'to place'. The compound was built in English by combining these elements ('counter-' + 'position').
Initially used for literal placing opposite or side-by-side contrast, the word's usage expanded to include figurative senses such as an opposing viewpoint or stance.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the act or state of placing something opposite or in contrast to something else; a placement that creates opposition or contrast.
The counterposition of the two sculptures emphasized their differences in style.
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Noun 2
a stance or position taken in direct opposition to another position (often used in debate, rhetoric, or critique).
Her counterposition to the policy was supported by several statistical studies.
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Last updated: 2025/11/15 20:00