vice president
B2Formal, Official
Definition
Meaning
An officer ranking next below a president and empowered to act for the president when that person is absent or unable.
Any of several executive positions in corporations, government, or organizations that are subordinate to the president. Can also refer informally to a person who is second in command in a department or team.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
In American corporate and political contexts, 'Vice President' is a formal title (often capitalised). In British contexts, 'vice-president' (with hyphen) is common, and 'deputy' may be used in similar roles. The term can also be used metaphorically.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
UK prefers hyphenation (vice-president) more often than US. In UK corporate titles, 'deputy chairman' or 'deputy managing director' might be used where US uses 'Vice President'. Capitalisation of the title is more rigidly observed in American English.
Connotations
In US, strongly associated with corporate hierarchy and federal government. In UK, may have a slightly less universal corporate connotation, sometimes seen as a more Americanism.
Frequency
More frequent in American English due to its standard use in corporate structures and government. In British English, alternative terms like 'deputy' are competitive.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
vice president of [department/organisation]vice president for [responsibility area]vice president at [company]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A heartbeat away from the presidency”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Standard title for a senior executive below the President or CEO. (e.g., Vice President of Sales)
Academic
Used for administrative roles in universities (e.g., Vice-President for Research).
Everyday
Used when discussing politics, news, or someone's job title.
Technical
Specific parliamentary or procedural role (e.g., Vice President of the Senate).
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- To vice-president a committee is a significant responsibility.
adjective
British English
- The vice-presidential duties were outlined in the charter.
American English
- She attended the vice presidential debate.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- She is the vice president.
- The vice president works in an office.
- The company appointed a new vice president for marketing.
- In the meeting, the vice president presented the sales figures.
- After serving as vice president for three years, she was promoted to president.
- The Vice President of the United States resides at Number One Observatory Circle.
- His acerbic wit made him an unlikely but effective vice-president for public relations, often defusing crises with a well-timed remark.
- The constitutional powers of the vice presidency have evolved significantly since the office's inception.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: The 'vice' (meaning substitute) for the president. Like a vice-captain in sports.
Conceptual Metaphor
SECOND-IN-COMMAND IS THE UNDERSTUDY; THE HIERARCHY IS A LADDER (next rung down).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct calque 'вице-президент' for all deputy roles; 'заместитель председателя' or 'заместитель директора' may be more accurate in non-political contexts.
- In Russian corporate structures, 'вице-президент' is a direct borrowing but may not indicate the same level of authority.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect capitalisation (vice President).
- Omitting the hyphen in British English where preferred.
- Using as a plural without making 'president' plural (e.g., 'vices president' is incorrect; it's 'vice presidents').
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is a common British English alternative for a corporate 'vice president' role?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is capitalised when it forms part of a formal title preceding a name (Vice President Harris) or is a specific named office (the Vice President of the United States). In general reference, it is often not capitalised.
The plural is 'vice presidents'. The word 'vice' does not change.
Yes, it is common for large corporations to have multiple vice presidents, each overseeing different divisions (e.g., VP of Sales, VP of Engineering).
The core duty is to act on behalf of the president in their absence and to oversee specific areas of responsibility as delegated by the president or board.