VIS-A-VIS

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does vis-a-vis mean? 

• VIS-A-VIS (noun)
  The noun VIS-A-VIS has 2 senses:

1. a person or thing having the same function or characteristics as another

2. small sofa that seats two people

  Familiarity information: VIS-A-VIS used as a noun is rare.

• VIS-A-VIS (adverb)
  The adverb VIS-A-VIS has 1 sense:

1. face-to-face with; literally 'face to face'

  Familiarity information: VIS-A-VIS used as an adverb is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• VIS-A-VIS (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A person or thing having the same function or characteristics as another

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Synonyms:

counterpart; opposite number; vis-a-vis

Hypernyms ("vis-a-vis" is a kind of...):

equivalent (a person or thing equal to another in value or measure or force or effect or significance etc)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "vis-a-vis"):

match (something that resembles or harmonizes with)

mismatch (a bad or unsuitable match)

complement (either of two parts that mutually complete each other)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Small sofa that seats two people

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

love seat; loveseat; tete-a-tete; vis-a-vis

Hypernyms ("vis-a-vis" is a kind of...):

couch; lounge; sofa (an upholstered seat for more than one person)

• VIS-A-VIS (adverb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Face-to-face with; literally 'face to face'

Context example:

I found myself vis-a-vis a burly policeman