What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
vicarious
Example
I experienced a vicarious thrill watching my friend bungee jump. [vicarious: adjective]
Example
She lived vicariously through her daughter's success as a musician. [vicariously: adverb]
surrogate
Example
The surrogate mother gave birth to a healthy baby boy. [surrogate: noun]
Example
The new teacher was a surrogate for the previous one who had retired. [surrogate: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Vicarious is more commonly used than surrogate in everyday language. Vicarious is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while surrogate is less common and often used in specific contexts such as pregnancy or legal matters.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between vicarious and surrogate?
Both vicarious and surrogate can be used in formal and informal contexts. However, surrogate may be more commonly used in technical or legal contexts, while vicarious is more commonly used in everyday language.
