noun, verb ·Moderate ·College level

Definitions

Noun

1. 1
   A second signature added to a document to affirm the validity of the signature of the first person.
2. 2
   a second confirming signature endorsing a document already signed wordnet
3. 3
   The response to a sign or signal.

   "Only those who give the countersign may enter the Masonic Lodge."

4. 4
   a secret word or phrase known only to a restricted group wordnet

Verb

1. 1
   To sign on the opposite side of (a document). transitive
2. 2
   add one's signature to after another's to attest authenticity wordnet
3. 3
   To add a second signature to a document, affirming the validity of the signature of another person. broadly, transitive

Synonyms

All synonyms

countersignaturepasswordacceptaccreditaffirmamen

Example

More examples

"Only those who give the countersign may enter the Masonic Lodge."

Etymology

From Middle French contresigne. Equivalent to counter- + sign.

Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.