vicarious

American  

[vahy-kair-ee-uhs, vi-] / vaɪˈkɛər i əs, vɪ- /

adjective

1. performed, exercised, received, or suffered in place of another.

   vicarious punishment.

2. taking the place of another person or thing; acting or serving as a substitute.

3. felt or enjoyed through imagined participation in the experience of others.

   a vicarious thrill.

4. Physiology. noting or pertaining to a situation in which one organ performs part of the functions normally performed by another.

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vicarious British  

/ vɪˈkɛərɪəs, vaɪ- /

adjective

1. obtained or undergone at second hand through sympathetic participation in another's experiences

2. suffered, undergone, or done as the substitute for another

   vicarious punishment

3. delegated

   vicarious authority

4. taking the place of another

5. pathol (of menstrual bleeding) occurring at an abnormal site See endometriosis

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Other Word Forms

• nonvicarious adjective
• nonvicariousness noun
• unvicarious adjective
• unvicariousness noun
• vicariism noun
• vicariously adverb
• vicariousness noun

Etymology

Origin of vicarious

First recorded in 1630–40; from Latin vicārius “substituting,” equivalent to vic(is) (genitive) “interchange, alternation” ( vice ³ ) + -ārius -ary; -ous