The obverse of an opinion, situation, or argument is its opposite.
[formal]
The obverse of rising unemployment is continued gains in productivity. [+ of]
obverse in British English
(ˈɒbvɜːs)
adjective
1.
facing or turned towards the observer
2.
forming or serving as a counterpart
3.
(of certain plant leaves) narrower at the base than at the top
noun
4.
a counterpart or complement
5.
the side of a coin that bears the main design or device
Compare reverse (sense 15)
6. logic
a categorial proposition derived from another by replacing the original predicate by its negation and changing the proposition from affirmative to negative or vice versa, as no sum is correct from every sum is incorrect
Derived forms
obversely (obˈversely)
adverb
Word origin
C17: from Latin obversus turned towards, past participle of obvertere, from ob- to + vertere to turn
obverse in American English
(ɑbˈvɜrs; əbˈvɜrs; also, and for n. always, ˈɑbˌvɜrs)
adjective
1.
turned toward the observer
2.
narrower at the base than at the top
an obverse leaf
3.
forming a counterpart
noun
4.
the side, as of a coin or medal, bearing the main design and the date
see also reverse
5.
the front or main surface of anything
6.
a counterpart
7. Logic
the negative counterpart of an affirmative proposition, or the affirmative counterpartof a negative
“no one is infallible” is the obverse of “everyone is fallible”
Derived forms
obversely (obˈversely)
adverb
Word origin
L obversus, pp. of obvertere, to turn toward < ob- (see ob-) + vertere, to turn: see verse
Examples of 'obverse' in a sentence
obverse
She had begun to realize, to get a hint of what was going on, that perhaps she was witnessing an obverse courtship.
McCorquodale, Robin DANSVILLE (2001)
It was an oddly sly glance, as though suddenly he were a different person -- or rather I was seeing the obverse of his personality.
Innes, Hammond HIGH STAND (2001)
Her gravelly laughter was the obverse of infectious: a jeering sound to put you on the alert.