vis-à-vis

1 of 3

preposition

ˈvēz-ə-ˈvē 

ˈvēs-,

also

-ä-ˈvē 

1

: in relation to

2

: as compared with

3

: face-to-face with

vis-à-vis

2 of 3

noun

plural vis-à-vis ˈvēz-ə-ˈvē(z) 

ˈvēs-,

-ä-

1

: one that is face-to-face with another

2

a

: escort, date

b

: counterpart

3

: tête-à-tête sense 1

vis-à-vis

3 of 3

adverb

: in company : together

Did you know?

Vis-à-vis comes from Latin by way of French, where it means literally "face-to-face." In English it was first used to refer to a little horse-drawn carriage in which two people sat opposite each other. From there it acquired various other meanings, such as "dancing partner." Today it no longer refers to actual physical faces and bodies, but its modern meaning comes from the fact that things that are face-to-face can easily be compared or contrasted. So, for example, a greyhound is very tall vis-à-vis a Scottie, and one currency may be stronger vis-à-vis another.

Examples of vis-à-vis in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Preposition

Likewise, the May 2018 move by the Department of Defense to include the Indian Ocean basin under the remit of its old Pacific Command (renamed as the Indo-Pacific Command) was aimed at further integrating India into its strategic plans vis-a-vis China. —Kamran Bokhari, Forbes.com, 17 July 2025

The second pivots that bench around to a longitudinal position against the driver's sidewall, creating a vis-a-vis dining lounge in partnership with the passenger-side bench across the way. —New Atlas, 15 July 2025

This likely helps explain the China's tough stance vis-a-vis US tariffs. —Brendan Ahern, Forbes.com, 10 July 2025

During the day, the bed cushions reposition into a pair of vis-a-vis sofa benches. —New Atlas, 3 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

Preposition

French, literally, face-to-face

First Known Use

Preposition

1755, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Noun

circa 1757, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adverb

1760, in the meaning defined above