vicar

noun

vic·​ar ˈvi-kər How to pronounce vicar (audio)
1
: an ecclesiastical agent: such as
a
: a Church of England incumbent receiving a stipend but not the tithes of a parish
b
: a member of the Episcopal clergy or laity who has charge of a mission or chapel
c
: a member of the clergy who exercises a broad pastoral responsibility as the representative of a prelate
2
: one serving as a substitute or agent
specifically : an administrative deputy
vicarship noun

Examples of vicar in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Better would it have been had the vicar never been born. Spin Staff, SPIN, 30 Sep. 2024 Atkinson both sends up and deepens stock characters like the vicar, who here has lost his faith; a major who doesn’t feel cut out for civilian life; and the batty lady of the manor, who appears to have arrived via time machine from the Victorian era. Yvonne Zipp, The Christian Science Monitor, 17 Sep. 2024 Foulger is the main author of the report as well as the vicar of St. Nicholas' Church in Durham, England. Jasmine Baehr, Fox News, 17 Aug. 2024 The village’s new vicar also got propositioned by another suspect, which should happen every week. Mandi Bierly, TVLine, 7 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for vicar 

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin vicarius, from vicarius vicarious

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of vicar was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near vicar

Cite this Entry

“Vicar.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vicar. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

vicar

noun
vic·​ar ˈvik-ər How to pronounce vicar (audio)
1
: a minister in charge of a church who serves under the authority of another minister
2
: a church official who takes the place of or represents a higher official

More from Merriam-Webster on vicar

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!