vis-à-vis

American  

[vee-zuh-vee, vee-za-vee] / ˌvi zəˈvi, vi zaˈvi /

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.

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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

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.

vis-à-vis British  

/ ˌviːzɑːˈviː /

preposition

1. in relation to; regarding

2. face to face with; opposite

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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 Cultural  

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

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Etymology

Origin of vis-à-vis

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

Example Sentences

“Our civil rights laws vis-à-vis employment should be applied equally to all people,” Ms. Dhillon says.

From The Wall Street Journal

This is a big change, vis-à-vis what the prior leadership was all about.

From Barron's

“While the situation remains highly uncertain and fragile, we expect banks to take provision overlays in upcoming results, with impairment charges likely to rise vis-à-vis our current base case,” Macquarie says.

From The Wall Street Journal

But the conflict has rekindled a debate on the bloc's external dependencies and high energy costs, which European industry has long said hamper competitiveness vis-a-vis Asia and North America.

From Barron's

"The EU now loses a comparative advantage vis-a-vis other countries, which was what made the deal palatable in the first place," the diplomat told AFP.

From Barron's

Related Words

• eye to eye