# vicar

/ˈvɪkɝ/ (US) · /vˈɪkɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/vicar
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 2. clerical representative

noun · CEFR C2 · Formal · Technical

a priest who acts as a representative for a higher-ranking church leader, like a bishop.

For teachers: an ecclesiastic who represents a superior, such as a bishop or the Pope, in the exercise of their jurisdiction.

- The bishop sent his vicar to attend the meeting on his behalf.
- In the Roman Catholic hierarchy, a Vicar General serves as the principal deputy to the diocesan bishop for administrative matters.

Usage: Often appears in titles like 'Vicar General' or 'Vicar of Christ'.

Teaching tip: This sense is highly technical and mostly found in formal religious or historical texts.

## Examples

- The vicar greeted everyone at the church door on Sunday morning.
- After the service, the vicar visited several elderly residents in the village to offer support.
- The local vicar played a central role in the community, often acting as a mediator during disputes between different factions of the parish council.

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