vis-à-vis

8 synonyms for vis-à-vis, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Preposition — In relation to, or with regard to.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

regarding concerning opposite facing

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

counterpart

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

in relation to as against opposite number

Synonyms by Meaning

1. preposition

In relation to, or with regard to.

“What is our position vis-à-vis the new regulations?”

regarding concerning in relation to as against

2. preposition formal

Face to face with; directly opposite.

“He found himself seated vis-à-vis the ambassador.”

opposite facing

3. noun formal

A person occupying the corresponding position to yours in another organisation.

“The minister met her vis-à-vis from Berlin.”

counterpart opposite number

How to use vis-à-vis

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

vis-à-vis the market position vis-à-vis stronger vis-à-vis

Formal and slightly showy; in plain writing, 'about' or 'compared with' usually reads better.

Etymology

From French vis-à-vis, literally 'face to face', from vis 'face'.

Full origin of vis-à-vis →

Frequently asked questions

How do you pronounce vis-à-vis?

Say vee-zah-VEE. The final s of each 'vis' is silent, and the stress falls on the last syllable. The accent on the à does not change the sound in English.

What is the difference between vis-à-vis and versus?

Versus sets two things in direct opposition or competition, as in a match or a lawsuit. Vis-à-vis merely relates one thing to another for comparison or reference, without implying a contest. 'Sales versus last year' suggests a scoreline; 'our policy vis-à-vis Germany' does not.

Do you need the accent and the hyphens?

Both hyphens are standard in English. The grave accent on the à is usual but frequently dropped, and 'vis-a-vis' is widely accepted, especially in American publications.

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regarding opposite facing concerning counterpart

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