versus

American  

[vur-suhs, -suhz] / ˈvɜr səs, -səz /

preposition

1. 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.

2. as compared to or as one of two choices; in contrast with: v., vs.

   traveling by plane versus traveling by train.

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versus British  

/ ˈvɜːsəs /

preposition

1.  v.   vs.  (esp in a competition or lawsuit) against; in opposition to

2. as opposed to; in contrast with

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Etymology

Origin of versus

First recorded in 1400–50; Late Middle English, from Latin: literally, “towards,” i.e., “turned so as to face (something), opposite, over against,” originally past participle of vertere “to turn”; see verse

Example Sentences

Manzambi missed Switzerland's subsequent last 16 win against Colombia due to a knee injury and it remains to be seen if he will be fit enough to feature versus holders Argentina in the quarter-finals.

From BBC • Jul. 8, 2026

“In our world, it’s risk versus gain,” Battalion Chief Emmanuel Sampang said from outside a tent at the team’s base camp in Venezuela.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 7, 2026

The rate for the former hovers at around 5.8% versus 6.4% for the latter.

From MarketWatch • Jul. 7, 2026

Some economists put that figure lower and note that the Fed study doesn’t distinguish between children living in their parents’ homes versus parents living in their children’s homes.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 5, 2026

Once the debate was framed as an issue of women’s rights versus African American rights, the arguments used by some female suffragists became increasingly elitist.

From "Votes for Women!" by Winifred Conkling