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

Vis-a-vis writing, Exeter was the place I got interested in writing.

From The Daily Beast

Not only on the diplomatic level— i.e., vis-a-vis Europe or Israel, but also within Palestinian society.

From The Daily Beast

The U.S. has three goals vis-a-vis Iran: minimalist, maximalist and in-between.

From The Daily Beast

My fair vis-a-vis looked me now full in the face and smiled, so that a dimple in her right cheek was plainly visible.

From Project Gutenberg

Two couples were seated vis-a-vis, the men apparently making fun of a "pony" coat one of the girls was wearing.

From Project Gutenberg

Looking down he saw the lady's hand resting upon his knee, and he straightway utilized the forefinger of his vis-a-vis.

From Project Gutenberg

M. Rubempré ordered both sherry and claret, and then filled the glasses of his vis-a-vis and his own.

From Project Gutenberg

I set myself to examine my vis-a-vis, dividing my attention between picturesque studies and studies physiognomical.

From Project Gutenberg