1 vis-à-vis | Definition of vis-à-vis
Logo
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

vis-à-vis

preposition
\ ˈvēz-ə-ˈvē How to pronounce vis-à-vis (audio) , ˈvēs- also -ä-ˈvē\

Definition of vis-à-vis

 (Entry 1 of 3)

1 : in relation to
2 : as compared with
3 : face-to-face with

vis-à-vis

noun
plural vis-à-vis\ ˈvēz-​ə-​ˈvē(z) How to pronounce vis-à-vis (audio) , ˈvēs-​ , -​ä-​ \

Definition of vis-à-vis (Entry 2 of 3)

1 : one that is face-to-face with another
2a : escort, date
b : counterpart
3 : tête-à-tête sense 1

vis-à-vis

adverb

Definition of vis-à-vis (Entry 3 of 3)

: 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.

First Known Use of vis-à-vis

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

History and Etymology for vis-à-vis

Preposition

French, literally, face-to-face

Keep scrolling for more

More from Merriam-Webster on vis-à-vis

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with vis-à-vis

Spanish Central: Translation of vis-à-vis

WORD OF THE DAY

See Definitions and Examples

Get Word of the Day daily email!