face-to-face

[feys-tuh-feys]

adjective

1. with the fronts or faces toward each other, especially when close together.

2. involving close contact or direct opposition.

   a face-to-face confrontation of adversaries.

3. noting, relating to, or promoting interaction that takes place in person, as opposed to online interaction or electronic communications: f2f, F2F, FTF, ftf

   face-to-face classrooms.

face to face

adverb

1. opposite one another

2. in confrontation

Word History and Origins

Origin of face to face¹

Middle English word dating back to 1300–50

Idioms and Phrases

In each other's presence, opposite one another; in direct communication. For example, The two chairmen sat face to face , or It's time his parents met the teacher face to face . [Mid-1300s]

Confronting each other, as in We were face to face with death during the avalanche . [Late 1800s]

Example Sentences

He describes it as "a large online and face-to-face community of people who are willing to take new people into the fold."

From BBC

The two hosts, who have vocally supported each other through the respective ordeals on their shows, were now able to continue the mutual backing in full force, face-to-face.

From Los Angeles Times

One pharmacist also admitted he was not carrying out the required face-to-face consultations and suggested faking photographs to trick regulators into thinking they had taken place.

From BBC

She said ministers had been warned that the changes would lead to "hospital-style waiting lists in general practice" which could "reduce face-to-face GP appointments".

From BBC

A public consultation expected to be launched later this year will include looking at alternatives - potentially including physical documents or face-to-face support - for groups such as older people or the homeless.

From BBC

Related Words

• eye to eye 

When To Use

What does face-to-face mean?

Face-to-face describes an interaction that takes place in person, as opposed to over the phone or online, as in Instead of emailing back and forth, let’s meet face-to-face in my office this afternoon. It is also commonly spelled without hyphens, as face to face.Sometimes the phrase is used as a noun referring to such a meeting, as in Let’s schedule a face-to-face for Friday morning. (In this usage, the term is almost always hyphenated.)Sometimes face-to-face indicates direct competition or confrontation, as in This is the first time these two players will have had a face-to-face match-up. In this sense, the term is very similar to head-to-head, which is probably more commonly used for such situations, especially in the context of sports. This sense of the word can also be used metaphorically to refer to a direct encounter with something, especially death or something else negative.In its most literal sense, face-to-face describes two things or people that are positioned so that they are facing each other, often close together, as in Please sit face-to-face with your partner for the practice interview or When you place these on the shelf, make sure they’re face-to-face instead of back-to-back.