veep
C2 - Very Low FrequencyInformal, primarily journalistic/political slang
Definition
Meaning
An informal, chiefly American, term for the Vice President of the United States.
By extension, can be used humorously or informally to refer to any vice president or second-in-command in an organization.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
A clipped form of 'V.P.' (Vice President). It carries a casual, sometimes irreverent tone. Use implies familiarity with or commentary on US political culture.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is almost exclusively American, referring specifically to the US Vice President. In British English, it is rarely used and would be understood only as a borrowing from American political slang.
Connotations
In American English: informal, sometimes playful or dismissive. In British English: an Americanism, potentially confusing without context.
Frequency
High frequency in American political journalism and informal political discourse; extremely low to zero frequency in British English.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[the] + veep + [verb][adjective] + veepVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “veep stakes (the competition to be chosen as a vice-presidential running mate)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Not used in standard business contexts. Might be used jokingly for a company's deputy CEO in an American firm with a casual culture.
Academic
Rare. Might appear in political science papers or journalism studies discussing informal American political language.
Everyday
Used in everyday American English only when discussing US politics informally.
Technical
Not a technical term.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
American English
- He's been veeping for the past four years without much public attention.
adjective
American English
- The veep debate is scheduled for next Tuesday.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The veep visited our state yesterday.
- The presidential candidate has not yet announced her veep pick, keeping the media in suspense.
- Despite his low profile, the former veep played a crucial role in shaping the administration's climate policy.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'BEEP' for a car horn—the VEEP is the person who might beep the horn in the motorcade right behind the President's car.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE VICE PRESIDENCY IS A SECONDARY POSITION (veep as a clipped, less formal label reinforces the conceptual metaphor of reduced stature compared to 'President').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'VIP' (/viː aɪ ˈpiː/). 'Veep' is one word, pronounced /viːp/, and refers specifically to a vice president.
- Avoid direct translation into Russian using вип (VIP). The correct equivalent would be вице-президент, but the informal tone of 'veep' is lost.
Common Mistakes
- Capitalizing it as a formal title (Veep). It is not a formal title.
- Using it to refer to vice presidents of other countries.
- Pronouncing it as 'vep' (/vɛp/) instead of 'veep' (/viːp/).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'veep' primarily used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is an informal, clipped form of 'Vice President' used primarily in American political slang and journalism.
It would be understood as a humorous or very informal analogy to the US Vice President, but it is not standard corporate terminology.
It originated in American English around the mid-20th century as a phonetic spelling of the abbreviation 'V.P.' (Vee-Pee).
Extremely rarely. It is perceived as a distinct Americanism. A British speaker would typically say 'Vice President' or 'deputy'.