versus

preposition

ver·​sus ˈvər-səs  -səz 

1

: against

2

: in contrast to or as the alternative of

free trade versus protection

Did you know?

Abbreviating Versus

In a number of areas the English language is possessed of an embarrassment of riches, with multiple synonyms or abbreviations for a word. One such case is versus, which is often written in a shortened form. You may choose between vs, vs., and v. Take care, when writing the word out in full, that you distinguish between versus (a preposition meaning “against”) and verses (“lines of metrical writing”).

Examples of versus in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

But for those hundreds of millions of Windows 10 users, whose numbers appear to be growing not diminishing versus Windows 11, the risk is that millions of users will not know what to do next, and will pick the wrong option. —Zak Doffman, Forbes, 14 Dec. 2024

Amazon Prime Video’s Thursday Night Football showcase is now averaging 13.6 million viewers per week, which not only marks a 9% improvement versus the year-ago period but is slightly higher than Fox’s standalone TNF deliveries during 2021. —Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 13 Dec. 2024

By segment, semiconductor revenue is expected to be $8.1 billion, a slight miss versus expectations of $8.27 billion. —Zev Fima, CNBC, 13 Dec. 2024

Soon after, O’Grady would add a postscript: Western culture is structured by binaries and a logic of either-or — good versus evil, black versus white — that create supremacies. —Jillian Steinhauer, Vulture, 13 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Medieval Latin, towards, against, from Latin, adverb, so as to face, from past participle of vertere to turn

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

versus

preposition

ver·​sus ˈvər-səs  -səz 

1

: against sense 1a

the champion versus the challenger

2

: in contrast to or as the alternative of

the tastiness of store-bought versus homemade cookies