adverb
vice versa
vy-suh VUR-suh
Vice versa (adverb) means With the two things just mentioned swapped round; the other way about. Example: “Dogs are welcome in the bar but not the dining room, and vice versa for children.”
adverb
1
With the two things just mentioned swapped round; the other way about.
"Dogs are welcome in the bar but not the dining room, and vice versa for children."
"He blames her for the argument and vice versa."
How to use vice versa
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAnd the same is true the other way round.
When to use it
Neutral; equally at home in speech, business writing and academic prose.
Memory tip
Common misspellings include 'visa versa' and 'vise versa'. The first word is spelled like the 'vice' in vice-president.
Trace the full origin ↓
Easily confused with
Common pairings
and vice versa
or vice versa
vice versa applies
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Dogs are welcome in the bar but not the dining room, and _____ for children.
Etymology
Latin, literally 'the position having been turned', from vicis 'position, turn' and versus, past participle of vertere 'to turn'.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Frequently asked questions
How do you use vice versa correctly?
Put it at the end of a statement involving two things, where reversing their roles gives a second true statement. 'Managers can book the room, and vice versa' is wrong because there is nothing to swap; 'Managers can book the seniors' room and vice versa' works, because it means seniors can book the managers' room too.
How is vice versa pronounced?
Most commonly VY-suh VUR-suh, with three syllables in the first word. The two-syllable VYSS VUR-suh is also widely used and equally accepted.
Is vice versa written with a hyphen?
No. It is two separate words, not hyphenated and not italicised in ordinary English writing, since it is fully naturalised.
What is the meaning of vice versa?
"vice versa" (adverb) means with the two things just mentioned swapped round; the other way about.
