What is "vicar general"

A '''vicar general ''' is the principal deputy of the bishop of a diocese for the exercise of administrative authority and possesses the title of local ordinary. As vicar of the bishop, the vicar general exercises the bishop's ordinary executive power over the entire diocese and, thus, is the highest official in a diocese or other particular church after the diocesan bishop or his equivalent in canon law. The title normally occurs only in Western Christian churches, such as the Latin Church of the Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion. The title for the equivalent officer in the Eastern churches is protosyncellus and in the Anglican Communion is archdeacon.

The term is used by many religious orders of men in a similar manner, designating the authority in the Order after its Superior General.