vice president

American  

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

Or vice-president

noun

vice presidents plural

1. an officer next in rank to a president who serves as president in the president's absence.

2. an officer next in rank to a president who serves as a deputy to the president or oversees a special division or function.

3. 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.

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vice president British  

noun

1. 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

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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

• vice presidency
  noun
• vice-presidency
  noun
• vice presidential
  adjective
• vice-presidential
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• vice presidents
  plural

Etymology

Origin of vice president

First recorded in 1565–75

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

vice president

They asked Kim Washington, the club’s vice president of philanthropy and marketing, whether they could at least watch events on TV at the club.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 28, 2026

Erik Haas, the firm's vice president of litigation said on Monday, external that the allegations are "meritless" and that J&J was willing to settle in order to finally resolve the matter.

From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2026

Thanks to four years as vice president and two presidential bids, her name identification is universal, and she has demonstrated the ability to raise mounds of money.

From Salon ● Jul. 27, 2026

In 1978 she replaced her late husband Hubert, who represented Minnesota in the Senate after serving as Lyndon Johnson’s vice president.

From Slate ● Jul. 24, 2026

The Kirkwood was the residence of the new vice president, Andrew Johnson, who was from Tennessee.

From "Chasing Lincoln's Killer" by James L. Swanson