Obverse

//ˈɑb.vɚs// adj, noun

adj, noun ·Common ·High school level

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    The heads side of a coin, or the side of a medal or badge that has the principal design.

    "The medal had a cross on the obverse and had a name inscribed on the reverse."

  2. 2
    the side of a coin or medal bearing the principal stamp or design wordnet
  3. 3
    A proposition obtained by obversion.
  4. 4
    the more conspicuous of two alternatives or cases or sides wordnet
Adjective
  1. 1
    Turned or facing toward the observer. not-comparable

    "The obverse side of the gravestone has the inscription."

  2. 2
    Corresponding; complementary. not-comparable

    "When you speak clearly, people understand you. If you don't mumble, the obverse effect is observed."

  3. 3
    Having the base, or end next to the attachment, narrower than the top. not-comparable

    "an obverse leaf"

Synonyms

All synonyms
adversativeadverseadversiveallyalter egoanalogon

Example

More examples

"The oracle taught that the faith of the laity was the obverse of the gods' hidden despair."

Etymology

From Latin obversus, 1650s.

More for "obverse"

SynonymsSentencesPronunciationTranslate

Next best steps

Find stronger synonymsSee usage examplesCheck pronunciationBrowse writing guides

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