vicarious

CEFRC1

/vɪˈkɛəɹi.əs/

adjective

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

01
adjective
Experienced through another person rather than directly.
02
adjective
Extra detail
Experienced or gained by taking in another person’s experience rather than through first-hand experience, such as through watching or reading.

Examples

At a glance

Sits at C1 on the CEFR scale

Also pronounced

Deep Dive

Extra meaning

In context

The concept of vicarious atonement, that one person can atone for the sins of another, is found in many religions.
These are people getting some sort of vicarious thrill from the street violence people like Tommy Robinson promote. Those that are attacking Jess Philips, who I'm proud to call colleague and a friend, are not protecting victims.
As time went on, the cruel custom was so far mitigated that a ram was accepted as a vicarious sacrifice in room of the royal victim.

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

The word in print, with each source given in full.

These are people getting some sort of vicarious thrill from the street violence people like Tommy Robinson promote. Those that are attacking Jess Philips, who I'm proud to call colleague and a friend, are not protecting victims.
2025 January 6, Keir Starmer, 33:21 from the start, in Prime Minister's remarks on the NHS, South West London Elective Orthopaedic Centre, Epsom
The pleasures which I made haste to seek in my disguise were, as I have said, undignified; I would scarce use a harder term. But in the hands of Edward Hyde, they soon began to turn toward the monstrous. When I would come back from these excursions, I was often plunged into a kind of wonder at my vicarious depravity.
1886, Robert Louis Stevenson, chapter 10, in Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde
As time went on, the cruel custom was so far mitigated that a ram was accepted as a vicarious sacrifice in room of the royal victim.
1900, James Frazer, chapter 26, in The Golden Bough
In these, however, he had not much time to indulge, for a footman, still decked in the trappings of vicarious grief, opened the door with the most startling promptitude, and he was ushered upstairs into a small but richly furnished room.
1920, H. Rider Haggard, chapter III, in The Blue Curtains

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From Latin vicārius (“vicarious, substituted”) + English -ous. First attested in the 17th century. Doublet of vicar.