noun Uncommon

vicar

VIHK

Vicar (noun) means In the Church of England, a member of the clergy in charge of a parish. Example: “The vicar gave a moving sermon at Sunday service.”

noun

In the Church of England, a member of the clergy in charge of a parish.

"The vicar gave a moving sermon at Sunday service."

A person who acts or speaks on behalf of another, especially a religious representative.

"The bishop appointed a vicar to oversee the diocese in his absence."

How to use vicar

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA Church of England priest in charge of a parish, or more generally someone acting as another's representative.

Easily confused with

vicarious →

Word forms

vicars plural

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Can you complete this real example?

The _____ gave a moving sermon at Sunday service.

Etymology

From Anglo-Norman vicaire and Latin vicarius, "substitute" — the same root as "vicarious."

Origin: Latin

Frequently asked questions

What does “vicar” mean?

The word “vicar” means in the Church of England, a member of the clergy in charge of a parish. In plain terms, a Church of England priest in charge of a parish, or more generally someone acting as another's representative.

How do you pronounce “vicar”?

“Vicar” is pronounced VIHK (/ˈvɪkɚ/ in IPA).

How do you use “vicar” in a sentence?

Here is “vicar” used in a sentence: “The vicar gave a moving sermon at Sunday service.”

What part of speech is “vicar”?

“Vicar” is a noun.

Where does the word “vicar” come from?

The word “vicar” comes from Latin. From Anglo-Norman vicaire and Latin vicarius, "substitute" — the same root as "vicarious.".

Is “vicar” a common word?

“Vicar” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “vicar” have?

“Vicar” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: in the Church of England, a member of the clergy in charge of a parish.

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