adjective
vicarious
vi-KAIR-ee-uhss
Vicarious (adjective) means Experienced indirectly, by imagining or watching what happens to someone else rather than doing it yourself. Example: “She got a vicarious thrill from her son's climbing photographs.”
adjective
1
Experienced indirectly, by imagining or watching what happens to someone else rather than doing it yourself.
"She got a vicarious thrill from her son's climbing photographs."
"Reading travel blogs gives him a kind of vicarious escape."
2
formal Acting or done on behalf of another person, or borne in another's place.
"Christian theology speaks of the vicarious suffering of Christ."
3
legal In law, describing liability that one party bears for the acts of another, such as an employer for an employee.
"The firm was held vicariously liable for the driver's negligence."
How to use vicarious
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishGetting the feeling of something by watching someone else do it.
When to use it
Neutral to formal. The 'living vicariously' sense can be mildly critical, suggesting someone is missing out on their own life.
Memory tip
The adverb is 'vicariously', and the usual construction is 'live vicariously through someone'.
Trace the full origin ↓
Easily confused with
Common pairings
vicarious pleasure
live vicariously through
vicarious liability
vicarious trauma
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She got a _____ thrill from her son's climbing photographs.
Etymology
From Latin vicarius 'substitute, deputy', from vicis 'a turn, a change'.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for vicarious
See all rhymes for vicarious →Frequently asked questions
What does living vicariously through someone mean?
It means getting your own enjoyment or sense of achievement from watching someone else's life rather than from your own. A parent who pushes a child into the sporting career they never had is living vicariously through them.
What is vicarious trauma?
It is the lasting emotional harm that can come from repeated exposure to other people's suffering, common among therapists, social workers, journalists and emergency responders. The person is affected deeply without having experienced the original event themselves.
What is the difference between vicarious and empathetic?
Empathy is understanding and sharing what another person feels. A vicarious experience goes further: you actually derive the pleasure, thrill or distress yourself, as if it had happened to you.
What is the meaning of vicarious?
"vicarious" (adjective) means experienced indirectly, by imagining or watching what happens to someone else rather than doing it yourself.
