What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
vicariously
Example
I lived vicariously through my friend's travels by listening to her stories. [vicariously: adverb]
Example
He experienced the thrill of victory vicariously through his son's championship game. [vicariously: adverb]
surrogate
Example
The teacher acted as a surrogate parent to the orphaned child. [surrogate: adjective]
Example
The couple used a surrogate to carry their baby to term. [surrogate: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Vicariously is more commonly used than surrogate in everyday language. Vicariously is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while surrogate is more specific and often used in medical or legal contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between vicariously and surrogate?
Both vicariously and surrogate can be used in formal and informal contexts. However, surrogate is more commonly used in technical or specialized fields, such as medicine or law.
