vicar
A representative or deputy of a higher ecclesiastical authority, specifically a parish priest in the Church of England.
[C] Countable
pl: vicars
The term carries a strong association with small-town English village life and the traditional social hierarchy of a parish. It suggests a figure who is not only a spiritual leader but often a community pillar, blending religious duty with a role as a local counselor and administrator.
While it is a formal title, in modern usage it often evokes a sense of quaintness or modesty. It differs from a bishop or archbishop by denoting a more localized, grounded presence, focusing on the immediate pastoral care of a specific neighborhood or village.
Countable when referring to the individual person holding the office of a priest.
Meanings
Examples
The vicar gave a moving sermon on forgiveness.