# vis

/ˈvɪs/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/vis
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. force or power

noun · CEFR C2 · Formal · Technical

a formal word for physical force, power, or energy.

For teachers: physical force, power, or energy; primarily used in legal or philosophical contexts to denote inherent strength.

- The lawyer argued about the vis major, or the 'superior force' of the storm.
- The contract included a clause regarding vis major, exempting the parties from liability in the event of an unpredictable natural disaster.

Usage: Often appears in Latin legal phrases like 'vis major' or 'vis inertiae'.

### 2. visibility

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal · Technical

a short way to say how far you can see, especially in bad weather.

For teachers: a clipping of visibility, commonly used in aviation, maritime, or meteorological contexts.

- The pilot decided not to land because the vis was too low in the fog.
- With vis dropping below minimum safety standards, the harbor master suspended all incoming vessel traffic until the mist cleared.

Usage: Commonly used in spoken reports among professionals in transport industries.

### 3. visuals or graphics

noun · CEFR C1 · Slang · Informal

a short way to say 'visuals' or the images used in a show or video.

For teachers: a clipping of visuals, referring to the graphic or optical elements of a performance or digital production.

- The music was okay, but the vis on the big screen were amazing.
- The creative director insisted that the vis for the product launch be synchronized perfectly with the ambient soundtrack.

Usage: Frequently used in the plural form 'vis' or 'vizzies' in creative industries.

### 4. visual

adjective · CEFR C1 · Informal · Technical

a short way to say 'visual' or related to seeing.

For teachers: a clipping of visual, used as a modifier in technical or informal shorthand.

- We need to check the vis settings on the projector before the meeting.
- The technician adjusted the vis output to ensure the high-definition feed was compatible with the older monitors.

Usage: Usually functions as an attributive modifier in technical jargon.

### 5. to visualize

verb · CEFR C1 · Informal

a short way to say 'visualize' or to see something in your mind.

For teachers: a clipping of visualize, used in informal or professional shorthand to describe the act of mental or digital representation.

- It is hard to vis how the room will look once the walls are painted.
- The architect asked the clients to vis the open-plan layout by looking at the 3D wireframe model.

Usage: Primarily used in fast-paced professional environments like design or tech.

## Examples

- The vis of the argument convinced the judge.
- The lawyer argued that the vis of the new law was sufficient to overturn the previous ruling.
- In classical physics, the concept of vis viva was an early formulation of what we now recognize as kinetic energy, representing the force of a body in motion.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.