What is "vice president"

Vice \Vice\, a. [Cf. F. vice-. See Vice, prep.] Denoting one who in certain cases may assume the office or duties of a superior; designating an officer or an office that is second in rank or authority; as, vice president; vice agent; vice consul, etc. Vice admiral. [Cf. F. vice-amiral.]

1. An officer holding rank next below an admiral. By the existing laws, the rank of admiral and vice admiral in the United States Navy will cease at the death of the present incumbents.

2. A civil officer, in Great Britain, appointed by the lords commissioners of the admiralty for exercising admiralty jurisdiction within their respective districts. Vice admiralty, the office of a vice admiral. Vice-admiralty court, a court with admiralty jurisdiction, established by authority of Parliament in British possessions beyond the seas. --Abbott. Vice chamberlain, an officer in court next in rank to the lord chamberlain. [Eng.] Vice chancellor.

   1. (Law) An officer next in rank to a chancellor.

   2. An officer in a university, chosen to perform certain duties, as the conferring of degrees, in the absence of the chancellor.

3. (R. C. Ch.) The cardinal at the head of the Roman Chancery.

   Vice consul [cf. F. vice-consul], a subordinate officer, authorized to exercise consular functions in some particular part of a district controlled by a consul.

   Vice king, one who acts in the place of a king; a viceroy.

   Vice legate [cf. F. vice-l['e]gat], a legate second in rank to, or acting in place of, another legate.

   Vice presidency, the office of vice president.

   Vice president [cf. F. vice-pr['e]sident], an officer next in rank below a president.

alt. 1 A deputy to a president, often empower to assume the position of president on his death or absence. 2 An executive in a business in charge of a department or branch. n. 1 A deputy to a president, often empower to assume the position of president on his death or absence. 2 An executive in a business in charge of a department or branch.

n. an executive officer ranking immediately below a president; may serve in the president's place under certain circumstances [syn: V.P.]

A vice president (in British English: vice-president for governments and director for businesses) is an officer in government or business who is below a president (managing director) in rank. The name comes from the Latin vice meaning "in place of". In some countries, the vice president is called the deputy president. In everyday speech, the abbreviation VP can be used.