reversi: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low FrequencyTechnical / Gaming
Quick answer
What does “reversi” mean?
A board game for two players using black and white circular pieces that are flipped to show the opposite color when captured.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A board game for two players using black and white circular pieces that are flipped to show the opposite color when captured.
The term may also be used generically to refer to any game, software, or system that involves the principle of reversal or overturning. In business or computing contexts, it can metaphorically describe a reversal of policy, process, or fortune.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both varieties primarily use the word "reversi" interchangeably with "Othello". However, British English may be slightly more likely to retain the original "reversi", while American English, influenced by marketing, may default to "Othello". The spelling and pronunciation are identical.
Connotations
In both dialects, it connotes intellectual strategy, logic, and a classic board game. No significant connotative difference exists.
Frequency
The term "Othello" is far more frequent globally than "reversi" in modern usage, due to trademark and commercialization. "Reversi" is used more in historical contexts, rule discussions, and specific gaming communities.
Grammar
How to Use “reversi” in a Sentence
to play reversito win/lose at reversito be good at reversiVocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rarely used. Could appear metaphorically: 'The market's sudden shift was a complete reversi of our projections.'
Academic
Used in game theory, mathematics (combinatorial game studies), and historical studies of games.
Everyday
Used when discussing board games or hobbies. 'We played reversi all evening.'
Technical
Used in computer science for AI development (game-playing algorithms) and in gaming software documentation.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “reversi”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “reversi”
- Confusing 'reversi' with other board games like checkers or Go.
- Misspelling as 'reversy', 'reversie', or 'reversal'.
- Using it as a countable noun incorrectly (e.g., 'a reversi' - better: 'a game of reversi').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes and no. Othello is a trademarked, standardized version of the older game Reversi. The rules are nearly identical, making the names largely interchangeable in casual speech, though 'Othello' is more common commercially.
The main objective is to finish the game with more discs of your colour showing on the board than your opponent. You achieve this by placing your discs so that you 'flank' one or more of your opponent's discs, turning them over to your colour.
Yes, if the board is completely filled and both players have an equal number of discs, or if neither player can make a legal move and the counts are equal, the game is a draw.
Reversi, with its simple rules but deep strategy, has been a classic testbed for artificial intelligence, particularly for developing and refining game-playing algorithms like minimax and Monte Carlo tree search.
A board game for two players using black and white circular pieces that are flipped to show the opposite color when captured.
Reversi is usually technical / gaming in register.
Reversi: in British English it is pronounced /rɪˈvɜː.si/, and in American English it is pronounced /rɪˈvɝː.si/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: REVERSI pieces REVERSE sides when you capture them.
Conceptual Metaphor
A SITUATION CAN BE REVERSED (e.g., 'The political landscape underwent a total reversi.')
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is a trademarked name for the game of reversi?