1. (prep.) Acting of suffering for another; as, a parent living vicariously through a child\.

2. (prep.) of or pertaining to a vicar, substitute, or deputy; deputed; delegated; as, vicarious power or authority.

3. (prep.) Performed of suffered in the place of another; substituted; as, a vicarious sacrifice; vicarious punishment.

4. (prep.) Acting as a substitute; -- said of abnormal action which replaces a suppressed normal function; as, vicarious hemorrhage replacing menstruation.

alternate alternative assigned backup commissioned counterfeit delegated dummy equivalent ersatz fake imitation indirect makeshift mock phony pinch provisional proxy reserve secondary spare stopgap substitute substituted surrogate temporary tentative token utility