versus

preposition

ver·​sus ˈvər-səs How to pronounce versus (audio) -səz How to pronounce versus (audio)
1
2
: in contrast to or as the alternative of
free trade versus protection

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Abbreviating Versus

In a number of areas the English language is possessed of an embarrassment of riches, with multiple synonyms or abbreviations for a word. One such case is versus, which is often written in a shortened form. You may choose between vs, vs., and v. Take care, when writing the word out in full, that you distinguish between versus (a preposition meaning “against”) and verses (“lines of metrical writing”).

Examples of versus in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web There's clearly still a DeSantis versus Trump dynamic there going on. ABC News, 24 Sep. 2023 What’s the balance between giving out too much information about what’s happening behind the screen, versus providing optimal transparency? Sophia Scorziello, Variety, 22 Sep. 2023 Put simplistically, the dynamic was extrovert versus introvert. Holland Cotter, New York Times, 21 Sep. 2023 Since there are ranges that define what normal blood pressure is versus one that's too low or too high, even being a few numbers off could have a negative effect on your health. Carla Delgado, Verywell Health, 20 Sep. 2023 One of your biggest decisions is fresh versus frozen. Jackie Freeman, Southern Living, 20 Sep. 2023 The rainier route would mean highs in the upper 60s to low 70s, versus mid- to upper 70s in the drier scenario. Matt Rogers, Washington Post, 19 Sep. 2023 This time out, Disney’s marketing team made the decision to highlight the movie’s horror elements as part of the campaign, versus only the murder mystery themes, in hopes of expanding the audience. Pamela McClintock, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 Sep. 2023 But United’s schedule is much worse — 26 hours versus 15 hours on Delta. Scott McMurren, Anchorage Daily News, 16 Sep. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'versus.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Medieval Latin, towards, against, from Latin, adverb, so as to face, from past participle of vertere to turn

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of versus was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near versus

Cite this Entry

“Versus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/versus. Accessed 27 Sep. 2023.

Kids Definition

versus

preposition
ver·​sus ˈvər-səs How to pronounce versus (audio) -səz How to pronounce versus (audio)
1
: against sense 1a
the champion versus the challenger
2
: in contrast to or as the alternative of
the tastiness of store-bought versus homemade cookies
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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