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”; see visage

Explanation

Vis-a-vis is a fancy way of saying "in regard to" or "compared to," as in: "He was substantially underpaid vis-a-vis other researchers." Technically that "a" in vis-a-vis is an "à" as the phrase translates literally from the French for "face to face." There's a slightly pedantic ring to the term vis-a-vis so use it with caution. It's more a term that might be used in a newspaper article or academic treatise, and something best avoided in speech altogether, unless you're deliberately aiming for comic effect.

Example Sentences

Layered on top of this is what bank executives see and feel directly: real stimulus spending and investment vis-à-vis artificial intelligence and other new technology solutions.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 8, 2026

Anta and rival brands like Li Ning offer similar athletic footwear for a significantly reduced price—an advantage vis-à-vis more premium-priced foreign brands as China endures an economic slowdown.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026

“Valuations have re-rated in the Chinese AI tech ecosystem, but they look inexpensive vis-à-vis the U.S., considering China’s potential upside in capex spend and its focus on AI monetization via use-case creation.”

From Barron's • Dec. 22, 2025

You stand in the same position vis-à-vis your crew.

From Slate • Nov. 24, 2025

Nor was it likely to improve its relative status vis-à-vis the other regions of Earth, except for what vigor the South American provinces lent it.

From "I, Robot" by Isaac Asimov

Related Words

• eye to eye