vice president

American

[vahys prez-i-duhnt] / ˈvaɪs ˈprɛz ɪ dənt /

Or vice-president

noun

an officer next in rank to a president who serves as president in the president's absence.
an officer next in rank to a president who serves as a deputy to the president or oversees a special division or function.
U.S. Government. the officer of this rank who is elected at the same time as the president and who succeeds to the presidency upon the resignation, removal, death, or disability of the president.

Lincoln's first vice president was Hannibal Hamlin.

vice president British

noun

Abbreviation: VP. V. Pres. an officer ranking immediately below a president and serving as his deputy. A vice president takes the president's place during his absence or incapacity, after his death, and in certain other circumstances

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Usage

Why is the term vice president in the news? On August 11, 2020, Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden announced he selected California Senator Kamala Harris as his vice-presidential running mate for the 2020 presidential election.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Etymology

Origin of vice president

First recorded in 1565–75

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The former vice president of Costa Rica is calling for a selection process free from any preferential treatment for women.

From Barron's • Jun. 9, 2026

Louise Moir is head teacher of Mackie Academy in Stonehaven and vice president of School Leaders Scotland.

From BBC • Jun. 8, 2026

Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook is planning to step down in September, handing the reins to John Ternus, senior vice president of hardware engineering.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 8, 2026

“These operations that we’re running today are real,” said Jim Farrell, senior vice president of supply chain at PepsiCo’s North American beverages division.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 8, 2026

There he was, Mohammed with the vice president of Lebanon.

From "Zeitoun" by Dave Eggers

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023