counterpoint.

1. The technique or musical texture of combining distinct melodic lines that interact while retaining their identity.

2. A contrasting element or relationship that brings another feature into clearer relief.

3. To set one element against another in a contrasting relationship.

Use it for

Words that belong together

• musical counterpoint
• contrapuntal writing

On the page

Musical counterpoint allowed the two melodies to interact without merging into one line.

The analysis traced the counterpoint through the independent movement of the parts.

Usage notes

Primary category: analysis / argumentation / evidence. Forms: Usually uncountable. Legacy lexical fields mirror sense 1 only. Use numbered sense fields for all meanings. Established modern English lexical item. No separate regional spelling or grammatical inflection entry. Writing functions: counterevidence assessment, argument critique, qualified assertion, formal disagreement. Disciplines: argumentation, research interpretation, social analysis. Commonness: moderately common. Third-person singular: counterpoints.