versus

[ vur-suh s, -suh z ]

/ ˈvɜr səs, -səz /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR versus ON THESAURUS.COM

preposition

against (used especially to indicate an action brought by one party against another in a court of law, or to denote competing teams or players in a sports contest): Smith versus Jones; Army versus Navy.

as compared to or as one of two choices; in contrast with: traveling by plane versus traveling by train. Abbreviation: v., vs.

RELATED WORDS

alternative, contrast, vs

Nearby words

Origin of versus

1400–50; late Middle English < Latin: towards, i.e., turned so as to face (something), opposite, over against, orig. past participle of vertere to turn; see verse

Can be confusedverses versus

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for versus

One of the more interesting splits in the book is the difference between your time at Manchester United versus at Everton.
Tim Howard’s Wall of Intensity|William O’Connor|December 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A truly cautionary tale of a 77-year-old versus the Internet.
The Bill Cosby Controversy Stages of Grief|Amy Zimmerman|November 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The pageant did achieve the dubious honor of becoming a masterful example of "show" versus "tell."
The Real Housewives of Miss America|Kate Shindle|September 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The question remains, however, is how many of Obama's clothes are actually paid for versus gifted.
Who Pays For Michelle Obama's Clothing?; Scout Willis Speaks Out Regarding Topless Photos|The Fashion Beast Team|June 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST

“If something is not going well, figure out why versus simply reacting,” he says.
A Runner’s Guide to Hydration (And How to Not Overdo It)|DailyBurn|May 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The man who won the case for the Chapter against the town can certainly win that of Watteville versus Riceys!
Albert Savarus|Honore de Balzac
Do not act and say, like Macleay versus Fleming, "I write with aqua fortis to bite into brass."
The Life and Letters of Charles Darwin, Volume I (of II)|Charles Darwin
Expone e too versus afore: this present craft ys called Algorismus, in e quych we vse teen signys of Inde.
The Earliest Arithmetics in English|Anonymous
It resembles the versus memoriales found in old-fashioned grammars.
Myths and Myth-Makers|John Fiske
For example, "Ursa" is said to be derived from versus, because the constellation is seen to turn about the pole.
Astronomical Myths|John F. Blake

British Dictionary definitions for versus

versus

/ (ˈvɜːsəs) /

preposition

(esp in a competition or lawsuit) against; in opposition toAbbreviation: v, (esp US) vs

as opposed to; in contrast with

Word Origin for versus

C15: from Latin: turned (in the direction of), opposite, from vertere to turn

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for versus

versus

prep.

mid-15c., in legal case names, denoting action of one party against another, from Latin versus "turned toward or against," from past participle of vertere (frequentative versare) "to turn," from PIE *wert- "to turn, wind," from root *wer- (3) "to turn, bend" (cf. Old English -weard "toward," originally "turned toward," weorthan "to befall," wyrd "fate, destiny," literally "what befalls one;" Sanskrit vartate "turns round, rolls;" Avestan varet- "to turn;" Old Church Slavonic vruteti "to turn, roll," Russian vreteno "spindle, distaff;" Lithuanian verciu "to turn;" Greek rhatane "stirrer, ladle;" German werden, Old English weorðan "to become" (for sense, cf. turn into); Welsh gwerthyd "spindle, distaff;" Old Irish frith "against").