vis-à-vis

[ vee-zuh-vee; French vee-za-vee ]

preposition

1. compared with:

   The graph shows income vis-à-vis expenditures.

2. in relation to or toward:

   The report is an examination of Japan’s foreign policy vis-à-vis its Asian neighbors.

3. with regard to; concerning; about:

   I’ve read his comments vis-à-vis the role of the media in international conflicts.

4. facing; opposite:

   We are now vis-à-vis the most famous painting in the Louvre.

adverb

1. face to face:

   They sat vis-à-vis at the table.

adjective

1. face-to-face:

   a vis-à-vis encounter.

2. Numismatics. (of a coin) having two portraits facing each other.

noun

, plural vis-à-vis [vee-z, uh, -, veez, vee-z, a, -, vee].

1. a person face to face with or situated opposite to another:

   He offered a cigarette to his vis-à-vis.

2. a date at a social affair:

   She introduced her vis-à-vis to the hostess.

3. a person of equal authority, rank, or the like:

   my vis-à-vis in the Louisville office.

4. a carriage in which the occupants sit face to face.
5. Furniture. tête-à-tête ( def 2 ).

vis-à-vis

/ ˌviːzɑːˈviː /

preposition

1. in relation to; regarding
2. face to face with; opposite

adverb

1. face to face; opposite

noun

1. a person or thing that is situated opposite to another
2. a person who corresponds to another in office, capacity, etc; counterpart
3. an upholstered sofa; tête-à-tête
4. a type of horse-drawn carriage in which the passengers sit opposite one another
5. a coin having an obverse upon which two portraits appear facing each other

vis-à-vis

1. Relative to; compared with: “She performed well vis-à-vis the rest of the competitors.”

Word History and Origins

Origin of vis-à-vis¹

First recorded in 1745–55; from French: literally, “face to face”; visage

Word History and Origins

Origin of vis-à-vis¹

C18: French, from vis face

Example Sentences

“The challenges that existed in the book world were similar to the challenges that existed in the film and television world vis-a-vis finding great material wherever that great material existed,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times

This past spring, as pro-Palestinian protests took place on campuses across the United States, the governor called on the University of Pennsylvania to “disband the encampment and to restore order and safety on campus” and implied a parallel between white supremacists and students protesting their university’s policies vis-à-vis Israel and the war in Gaza.

From Slate

Slated to hit Netflix in May, the big-budget comedy chronicles the fictional creation of Pop-Tarts toaster pastries vis-à-vis warring competition between major cereal companies, Kellogg's and Post.

From Salon

"And Mexico - under previous administrations, and in this one - doesn't have a strategy vis-à-vis this new triangular relationship."

From BBC

He must restrain “Bibi” Netanyahu vis-à-vis Iran as he has so far failed to moderate him vis-à-vis the Gaza Strip.

From Seattle Times