counterfoil: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Technical (financial/administrative)
Quick answer
What does “counterfoil” mean?
The part of a cheque, ticket, or receipt that is kept as a record after the main part has been detached.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The part of a cheque, ticket, or receipt that is kept as a record after the main part has been detached.
A stub or detachable record portion of a document that serves as proof of a transaction; more broadly, anything that serves as a counterpart or foil.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is more common in British English; in American English, the more common equivalent is 'stub' (e.g., cheque stub, ticket stub).
Connotations
In British English, it carries a formal, procedural connotation linked to banking and accounting. In American English, the word sounds markedly British and technical.
Frequency
High-frequency in specific British formal/administrative contexts; low-frequency in general American English.
Grammar
How to Use “counterfoil” in a Sentence
retain + counterfoildetach + counterfoilfill in + counterfoilcounterfoil + of + cheque/ticketVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “counterfoil” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The system required us to counterfoil each transaction manually. (Archaic/rare)
American English
- (Not used as a verb in modern AmE.)
adverb
British English
- (Not used as an adverb.)
American English
- (Not used as an adverb.)
adjective
British English
- (Not used as an adjective.)
American English
- (Not used as an adjective.)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Essential for bookkeeping; used when instructing staff to retain the counterfoil for audit trails.
Academic
Used in texts on accounting history or administrative procedures.
Everyday
Rare; might be used by individuals maintaining detailed financial records.
Technical
Standard term in banking, accounting, and ticket issuing systems.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “counterfoil”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “counterfoil”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “counterfoil”
- Confusing it with 'counterpart' in non-document contexts. Using it as a synonym for 'receipt' (it's only part of one).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. A counterfoil is specifically the part of a document (like a receipt or cheque) that you detach and keep. The receipt is often the part you give away; the counterfoil is your record.
It would be understood in context but sounds very formal and British. An American would typically say 'check stub' or 'receipt stub'.
Its primary function is to serve as a permanent, verifiable record of a transaction for the issuer, aiding in accounting, auditing, and tracking.
Historically and very rarely, it could mean a counterpart or duplicate of anything, but this usage is now obsolete. Modern usage is almost exclusively tied to tickets, cheques, and receipts.
The part of a cheque, ticket, or receipt that is kept as a record after the main part has been detached.
Counterfoil is usually formal, technical (financial/administrative) in register.
Counterfoil: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkaʊntəfɔɪl/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkaʊn(t)ərˌfɔɪl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None directly associated.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'counter' (against/record) + 'foil' (a thin sheet). It's the thin record sheet you keep 'counter' to the part you give away.
Conceptual Metaphor
A DOCUMENT IS A BODY (with a detachable part). The counterfoil is the 'stub' or 'skeleton' left behind.
Practice
Quiz
In which variety of English is the word 'counterfoil' most commonly used for the detachable part of a cheque?