viz
Viz. is a Latin abbreviation of videlicet, meaning "that is to say."
The term viz is sometimes used to mean any of the following: "namely," "that is to say," "as follows," or "to wit." After making a statement, a comma may be added, followed by viz., followed by more specific statements to illustrate the original point. A colon or comma usually separates viz. from the more specific statements.
An example from Multiform Desiccants, Inc. v. Medzam, Ltd.: “The inventor's words that are used to describe the invention — the inventor's lexicography — must be understood and interpreted by the court as they would be understood and interpreted by a person in that field of technology. Thus the court starts the decision-making process by reviewing the same resources as would that person, viz., the patent specification and the prosecution history.”
[Last reviewed in April of 2025 by the Wex Definitions Team]
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