vice versa

adverb

vice ver·​sa ˈvīs-ˈvər-sə  ˌvī-si-ˈvər-sə 

: with the order changed : with the relations reversed : conversely

Examples of vice versa in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In another, participants were sometimes told to expect sugar but were actually given sweetener or vice versa. —Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 29 Apr. 2026

The key to the program is the devices inside the vests, which recognize the pitch of a child speaking or a baby babbling and the pitch of an adult and capture when an adult speaks and a child or baby responds or vice versa. —Michael Cuglietta, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 Apr. 2026

Putting full-sun plants in shade — or vice versa — leads to small, leggy growth or scorched, crispy leaves. —Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 29 Apr. 2026

The crisscrossing of driving lanes will be especially frustrating for drivers whose destinations require them to go west from the east side of Fort Lauderdale, and vice versa. —Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 28 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Latin

First Known Use

1601, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

vice versa

adverb

vi·​ce ver·​sa

ˌvī-si-ˈvər-sə, 

(ˈ)vīs-ˈvər-

: with the order turned around

exchange money for tokens, rather than vice versa

Etymology

from Latin vice versa "with the order turned around," from vice "in place of, instead" and versa, form of versus "turned," from vertere "to turn" — related to converse, reverse, versatile