vicarious — English Dictionary

Adjective

1. Delegated.

   Usage

   • not-comparable

2. Experienced or gained by taking in another person’s experience rather than through first-hand experience, such as through watching or reading.

   Usage

   • not-comparable

   Examples

   People experience vicarious pleasures through watching television.

   More examples (2)

   The pleasures which I made haste to seek in my disguise were, as I have said, undignified; I would scarce use a harder term. But in the hands of Edward Hyde, they soon began to turn toward the monstrous. When I would come back from these excursions, I was often plunged into a kind of wonder at my vicarious depravity.

   These are people getting some sort of vicarious thrill from the street violence people like Tommy Robinson promote. Those that are attacking Jess Philips, who I'm proud to call colleague and a friend, are not protecting victims.

3. On behalf of others.

   Usage

   • not-comparable

   Examples

   The concept of vicarious atonement, that one person can atone for the sins of another, is found in many religions.

   As time went on, the cruel custom was so far mitigated that a ram was accepted as a vicarious sacrifice in room of the royal victim.

   More examples (1)

   In these, however, he had not much time to indulge, for a footman, still decked in the trappings of vicarious grief, opened the door with the most startling promptitude, and he was ushered upstairs into a small but richly furnished room.

Adjective

1. experienced at secondhand

   Examples

   read about mountain climbing and felt vicarious excitement

2. occurring in an abnormal part of the body instead of the usual site involved in that function

   Examples

   vicarious menstruation

3. suffered or done by one person as a substitute for another

   Examples

   vicarious atonement