vicar

noun

vic·​ar ˈvi-kər 

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

ˈvi-kər-ˌship 

noun

Examples of vicar in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Such a notion doesn’t come as a surprise to David W. Peters, an Anglican vicar in Pflugerville, Texas. —Aj Willingham, CNN, 28 Mar. 2024

Patrick Winslow, local vicar general and chancellor, told The Charlotte Observer. —Chase Jordan, Charlotte Observer, 5 Apr. 2024

There’s a long tradition of presenting England’s smalltown shopkeepers, pub-tenders, constables and vicars as kindly, communal folks who keep calm and carry on in the name of queen and country. —David Fear, Rolling Stone, 27 Mar. 2024

An Emily who takes opium, spontaneously tattoos herself, and gets ravaged by handsome vicars in stone cottages would no doubt give any respectable Brönte scholar the vapors. —Leah Greenblatt, EW.com, 17 Feb. 2023

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

Phrases Containing vicar

• vicar apostolic
• vicar-general

Kids Definition

vicar

noun

vic·​ar ˈvik-ər 

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