What does vicariate mean?
In ecclesiastical administration, a vicariate is a territory or jurisdiction placed under the authority of a vicar. The term is especially associated with formal church structures, including Roman Catholic jurisdictions administered by a vicar apostolic, and it may also describe an area overseen by a vicar in an Anglican or other episcopal context. A vicariate is therefore an administrative unit rather than a title for the person who governs it: that person is the vicar. The word is uncommon in everyday speech and appears mainly in legal, historical, and denominational writing. Its Latin formation, through vicariatus, reflects the idea of acting or administering in place of another authority. For readers, vicariate offers a precise distinction between the ecclesiastical area and the office-holder, while also showing how religious administration has long borrowed the vocabulary of substitution and delegated authority.
nounAn ecclesiastical jurisdiction or territory administered by a vicar. The term is especially associated with Roman Catholic jurisdictions headed by a vicar apostolic.
- An ecclesiastical jurisdiction or territory placed under the authority of a vicar, especially a vicar apostolic.
"The apostolic vicariate administers a territory for Catholics who are not attached to a particular diocese."
"The Apostolic Vicariate of Eastern Africa serves Catholic communities across several countries."
"After the reorganization, the former vicariate was divided into separate ecclesiastical districts."
The plural is grammatically standard but relatively uncommon because the word itself largely belongs to specialized ecclesiastical writing.
"The decree established two new vicariates in the eastern provinces."
A vicariate is the territory; a vicar is the person who may administer it.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of vicariate
The word comes from Latin vicariatus, a noun meaning the office or jurisdiction of a vicar and a derivative of vicarius, meaning a substitute or deputy. English borrowed it in the early 17th century for an ecclesiastical jurisdiction or territory under a vicar. Its root also lies behind vicar, vicarious, vicarial, and vicarship.
How vicariate is actually used
A formal and relatively uncommon term used chiefly in ecclesiastical, legal, and historical writing. It is more characteristic of formal denominational administration than of ordinary speech.
Easily confused with vicariate
A vicariate is an ecclesiastical jurisdiction, whereas something vicarious is done by one person on behalf of another.