vicarious

USAGE SUMMARY

'vicarious' is a correct and usable word in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is experienced or felt through imagination or an understanding of the feelings of another person. Example: "I felt a vicarious joy watching my son receive his first award."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Partly, this is smugness at knowing things others did not, all the more so if you have turned them on in the process, but beyond that, it is impossible not to find joy in a journey and its realisation that helps make the vicarious direct.

The Guardian - Sport

Maybe every soap has a shelf-life … JH: The bottom line is that people watch because they want to be taken out of themselves, to live a vicarious life.

The Guardian - Opinion

I am my own Dieu, I fashion my vanity, delighting in the vicarious transgression that has fashionable artists like those fools Cocteau and Picasso, who have never dared to have oral sex with a leprotic geriatric vagabond.

The Guardian - Books

In Europe and elsewhere, Israeli diplomats find themselves fending off uncomfortable accusations of vicarious jingoism.Alongside the consonance of their broader views, Mr Bush and Mr Sharon seem to have achieved remarkable harmony regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The Economist

In a paper published in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, a group of four researchers describe this phenomenon as "vicarious goal satiation".

The Economist

Just talking about progress towards goals might be enough to trigger vicarious goal satiation, she says, allowing everyone to leave the meeting with a warm glow and a subsequent lack of ambition.

The Economist

George Bush is a popular leader fresh from vicarious victories on the Afghan battlefield.

The Economist

In a smaller and even more vicarious way, so is Tony Blair.

The Economist

Worse, since the court determined that Napster knew its service was being used for piracy, it could now be found guilty of vicarious infringement by its users, and face huge fines.The ruling is also bad news for Bertelsmann, the parent company of BMG, a record company that switched sides and formed an alliance with Napster last October.

The Economist

In America too, one can often sense an emotional "double-feeling", as the Dutch would call it, between the public's dread of the government's all-embracing surveillance capabilities, and the public's vicarious awe at the perspective afforded by an apparatus that aspires to monitor the entirety of the human race's electronic communications.

The Economist

Big foreign clubs, like Barcelona and Manchester United, often make pre-season trips to the country.Simon Chadwick, a professor of sport business at Coventry University, says support for such teams needs to be seen not so much as participation in the vicarious joys and sorrows that fans are heir to as a form of conspicuous consumption: "Manchester United is just another Western consumer brand".

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "vicarious" to precisely describe situations where emotions or experiences are felt indirectly through someone else's actions or feelings. For instance, "She experienced a vicarious thrill watching her daughter graduate."

Common error

Avoid using "vicarious" when you mean "curious". "Vicarious" implies experiencing something through another person, while "curious" means eager to know or learn something.

Linguistic Context

The word "vicarious" functions primarily as an adjective, modifying nouns to describe experiences or feelings that are experienced indirectly, through someone else. Ludwig confirms this usage, showcasing numerous examples of "vicarious" modifying nouns like "pleasure", "guilt", and "thrill".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Encyclopedias

25%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "vicarious" is a versatile adjective used to describe experiences felt indirectly. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and widespread applicability, as demonstrated by the numerous examples provided. While generally neutral in tone, its nuanced meaning lends itself to more formal contexts. A common pitfall is confusing it with "curious", a distinctly different term. To avoid errors, remember that "vicarious" implies an experience lived through another person. Common usages appear in “News & Media”, “Encyclopedias”, and “Science”. Ultimately, mastering "vicarious" enhances your writing precision and expressiveness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

secondhand experience

Highlights that the experience is not original or firsthand, lacking the depth of personal involvement.

proxy experience

Focuses on acting through an intermediary, suggesting a lack of direct action or consequence.

indirect experience

Focuses on the mediated nature of the experience rather than the emotional connection.

reflective feeling

Emphasizes the mirroring of another's feelings rather than the direct experience of those feelings.

observed experience

Emphasizes the act of watching or witnessing rather than participating or feeling directly.

empathetic understanding

Emphasizes the cognitive aspect of comprehending another's feelings, removing the element of personally experiencing them.

mediated involvement

Focuses on the intervention of a third party or medium in the experience, shifting attention from the emotional aspect.

surrogate participation

Suggests a replacement or substitute form of involvement, implying a lack of direct agency.

derivative sensation

Highlights that the sensation is not original but derived from another source, removing the element of personal risk or investment.

imagined participation

Highlights the speculative and unreal nature of the experience, focusing on mental simulation rather than direct engagement.

FAQs

How to use "vicarious" in a sentence?

You can use "vicarious" to describe feelings or experiences gained through someone else's actions. For example, "I felt a "vicarious thrill" watching the race."

What's the difference between "vicarious" and "empathetic"?

"Vicarious" means experiencing something indirectly, while "empathetic" means understanding and sharing another person's feelings. You can feel "vicarious joy" by watching someone else succeed, but being empathetic means you understand and share their feelings deeply.

What can I say instead of "vicarious"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives such as "indirect experience", "secondhand experience", or "surrogate participation".

Is it correct to say "I vicariously lived through them"?

Yes, it's correct. It implies that you experienced life through another person's actions and experiences, feeling their emotions as if they were your own.