vis-à-vis

1 of 3

preposition

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) How to pronounce vis-à-vis (audio)
ˈvēs-,
-ä-
1
: one that is face-to-face with another
2
3

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
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.
Preposition
The vis-a-vis dinette transforms into a single bed, and buyers can add an upper bed to create a double bunk area. New Atlas, 29 June 2025 What has changed the most, of course, is that the Oct. 7 attacks changed the Israeli mindset vis-a-vis Iran, and that Netanyahu calculated that the Trump administration would be more supportive of the kind of systemic change in the region that Israel now sees as crucial to its security. The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 22 June 2025 Given his leadership position in the wind energy sector, Vaughan surely knows (or should know) the concerns about the high cost-to-benefit ratios associated with industrial wind farms vis-a-vis other types of electricity generation. Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 20 June 2025 The warring factions in Trump's circle put the president in a tricky position vis-a-vis Iran. Sonam Sheth, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for vis-à-vis

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of vis-à-vis was in 1755

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Vis-à-vis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vis-%C3%A0-vis. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.

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