counter-claimnoun [ C ]
also counterclaim ukusa statement that someone makes in answer to a statement that has been made by someone else, and that is different from it:
Human rights abuses have been the subject of claim and counterclaim.
LAW a legal case that a person or an organization starts against someone who has brought a case against them:
file/make a counterclaim Dougherty filed a counterclaim, arguing that the city had no right to regulate campaign cash under the state constitution.
counter-claim
verb [ I or T ] also counterclaim
The company counterclaimed for breach of contract.