Converse (semantics)

Short description: Pairs of words that refer to a relationship from opposite points of view

In linguistics, converses or relational antonyms are pairs of words that refer to a relationship from opposite points of view, such as parent/child or borrow/lend.^[1]^[2] The relationship between such words is called a converse relation.^[2] Converses can be understood as a pair of words where one word implies a relationship between two objects, while the other implies the existence of the same relationship when the objects are reversed. ^[3] Converses are sometimes referred to as complementary antonyms because an "either/or" relationship is present between them. One exists only because the other exists.^[4]

List of converse words

Own and belong are relational opposites i.e. "A owns B" is the same as "B belongs to A."
Win and lose i.e. if someone wins, someone must lose.
Fraction and whole i.e. if there is a fraction, there must be a whole.
Above and below
Employer and employee
Parent and child
Teacher and student
Buy and sell
East and west
Predator and prey
Lend and borrow
Offense and defense
Slave and master