Words / C2

vi-KAIRR-ee-uh-s/vɪˈkeəriəs/

Vicarious means felt through someone else’s experience: vicarious pleasure, vicarious embarrassment. Indirect is everyday; vicissitude (already in the dictionary) is a change of fortune — related look, different meaning. Vicious is cruel. Do not call a first-hand injury vicarious.

Meaning

Felt through imagined participation in someone else’s experience.

Examples

• “Travel programmes offer vicarious adventure from the sofa.”
• “Travel shows offer vicarious adventure from a wet Tuesday sofa.”
• “Vicarious embarrassment is catching someone else’s shame; vicissitudes are life’s ups and downs.”

Good to know

Felt through another’s experience. Mix-up: vicissitude (ups and downs); vicious (cruel). Everyday: indirect. Not first-hand.

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