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

Did you know?

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
As cellphones have cultivated a certain sense of isolation and observing memorable moments on social media versus actually having them, the luxury sector’s interest in experiences may heighten. Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 17 Oct. 2025 This includes a customizable home screen that can display time, temperature, weather, humidity, outdoor air quality, and more (versus a static screen), and energy-saving implementations that can either run automatically or require you to opt-in through the Google Home app. Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Oct. 2025 Those three touchdown passes helped Flacco tie Brady's 30 all-time touchdowns thrown against the Steelers, which ranks as the most thrown by a quarterback all-time versus Pittsburgh. Matthew Couden, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Oct. 2025 Anyone who suggests Guardiola’s title-winning Manchester City teams were boring should be forced to watch 90 minutes of Mourinho’s Chelsea versus Rafael Benitez’s Liverpool in the mid-2000s and report back. Oliver Kay, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for versus

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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Versus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/versus. Accessed 22 Oct. 2025.

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

More from Merriam-Webster on versus

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!