obverse

1 of 2

adjective

ob·​verse äb-ˈvərs 

əb-,

ˈäb-ˌvərs 

1

: facing the observer or opponent

2

: having the base narrower than the top

an obverse leaf

3

: constituting the obverse of something : opposite

obversely adverb

obverse

2 of 2

noun

ob·​verse ˈäb-ˌvərs  äb-ˈvərs 

əb-ˈvərs

1

: the side of a coin or currency note bearing the chief device and lettering

broadly : a front or principal surface

2

: a counterpart having the opposite orientation or force

their rise was merely the obverse of the Empire's fall

—A. J. Toynbee

also : opposite sense 1

joy and its obverse, sorrow

3

: a proposition inferred immediately from another by denying the opposite of what the given proposition affirms

the obverse of "all A is B" is "no A is not B" 

Did you know?

Heads or tails? If you called heads, obverse is the word for you. Since the 17th century, we've been using obverse for the front side of coins (usually the side depicting the head or bust of a prominent person). The opposite of this sense of obverse is reverse, the back or tails side of a coin. Since the 19th century, obverse has referred to an opposing counterpart or an opposite. Additionally, it can be an adjective meaning "facing the observer or opponent" or "being a counterpart or complement."

Synonyms

Noun

• antipode
• antithesis
• contrary
• counter
• negative
• opposite
• reverse

Examples of obverse in a Sentence

Noun

joy and its obverse, sadness

We thought they would be pleased with our decision. We have learned, however, that the obverse is true.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The obverse side will still feature the portrait of former President George Washington by Laura Gardin Fraser. —Jordan D. Brown, Baltimore Sun, 3 Aug. 2023

The answer, perhaps, was shame: What Ernaux seemed to have understood from the start is that shame is the obverse side of truth. —Rachel Cusk, New York Times, 2 May 2023

Noun

According to one estimate, 96 percent of the world’s population speaks just four percent of all languages, which means that the striking obverse is also true: just four percent of the world’s population speaks 96 percent of all languages. —Ross Perlin, Foreign Affairs, 23 Apr. 2024

But the two scary-sounding facts have happy-sounding obverses. —Dominic Pino, National Review, 10 Jan. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Latin obversus, from past participle of obvertere to turn toward, from ob- toward + vertere to turn — more at ob-, worth

First Known Use

Adjective

circa 1656, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1658, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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Kids Definition

obverse

noun

ob·​verse

ˈäb-ˌvərs,

äb-ˈvərs

1

: the side of something (as a coin) bearing the principal design or lettering

2

: a front or principal surface

3

: counterpart sense 3