vicarious

C2 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /vaɪˈkɛɹi.əs/ UK /vɪˈkɛəɹi.əs/ See IPA manual

Freq #72917

Meanings

1

adj
suffered or done by one person as a substitute for another

The children thanked their parents for their vicarious atonement.
2

adj
occurring in an abnormal part of the body instead of the usual site involved in that function

The patient had vicarious menstruation from their nose.
3

adj
experienced at secondhand

I read about mountain climbing and felt vicarious excitement.
4

adj
Experienced or gained by taking in another person’s experience rather than through first-hand experience, such as through watching or reading.

People experience vicarious pleasures through watching television.

Thesaurus

Word family

Forms vicariously

Derived forms vicariously

Related forms vicar

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

vicarious atonement
atonement made by one person on behalf of another for a wrong

Adjective + noun

Etymology

Adapted borrowing of Latin vicārius (“vicarious, substituted”) + -ous, 17th century. Doublet of vicar.

Topics

Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# vicarious

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** /vaɪˈkɛɹi.əs/
**IPA (UK):** /vɪˈkɛəɹi.əs/
**Frequency rank:** 72917

## Meanings
1. suffered or done by one person as a substitute for another
2. occurring in an abnormal part of the body instead of the usual site involved in that function
3. experienced at secondhand
4. Experienced or gained by taking in another person’s experience rather than through first-hand experience, such as through watching or reading.

## Examples
- The children thanked their parents for their vicarious atonement.
- The patient had vicarious menstruation from their nose.
- I read about mountain climbing and felt vicarious excitement.
- People experience vicarious pleasures through watching television.

## Derived Forms
- vicariously

## Related Forms
- vicar

## Etymology
Adapted borrowing of Latin vicārius (“vicarious, substituted”) + -ous, 17th century. Doublet of vicar.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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