What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
homologue
Example
The human arm is the homologue of the bat wing. [homologue: noun]
Example
The two proteins share a homologous region. [homologous: adjective]
counterpart
Example
The CEO's counterpart in the subsidiary oversees the day-to-day operations. [counterpart: noun]
Example
The French word 'maison' is the counterpart of the English word 'house'. [counterpart: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Counterpart is more commonly used than homologue in everyday language. Counterpart is a more general term that can be used in many contexts, while homologue is a technical term used mainly in biology and genetics.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between homologue and counterpart?
Homologue is a more technical and formal term, while counterpart is more versatile and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.