Noun vicar-general has 1 sense

1. vicar-general - (Roman Catholic Church) an administrative deputy who assists a bishop
   --₁ is a kind of deputy, lieutenant
   

Vicar-General

A vicar-general refers to a high-ranking official in the Catholic Church who serves as the chief deputy or representative of a bishop in the administration of a diocese.

Sense 1 (Noun): In Catholic Church hierarchy, the vicar-general holds authority over the day-to-day operations of the diocese in the absence or with the delegated authority of the bishop.

Example Sentence 1: The vicar-general made an announcement regarding the upcoming diocesan conference.

Example Sentence 2: When the bishop was on a pastoral visit, the vicar-general managed the affairs of the diocese.

Sense 2 (Noun): In some legal systems, a vicar-general is a judge in a diocesan ecclesiastical court.

Example Sentence 1: The vicar-general delivered a ruling on the controversial church property dispute.

Example Sentence 2: The appointment of a new vicar-general brought fresh perspectives to the diocesan court proceedings.

Sense 3 (Noun): Locally, a vicar-general may refer to the administrative deputy or assistant of a high-ranking clergyman of a particular church or religious organization.

Example Sentence 1: The archbishop's vicar-general assisted in coordinating the pastoral activities of the diocese.

Example Sentence 2: The vicar-general oversaw the construction of the new church building in collaboration with the parishioners.