deputy

noun

dep·​u·​ty ˈde-pyə-tē 

plural deputies

often attributive

1

a

: a person appointed as a substitute with power to act

b

: a second in command or assistant who usually takes charge when his or her superior is absent

2

: a member of the lower house of some legislative assemblies

Synonyms

• agent
• assignee
• attorney
• commissary
• delegate
• envoy
• factor
• minister
• procurator
• proxy
• rep
• representative

Examples of deputy in a Sentence

the club president sent a deputy to the conference to vote on our behalf

a deputy supervisor to help out with routine tasks

Recent Examples on the Web

America First, the nonprofit group founded by Stephen Miller, who is set to become Trump’s deputy chief of staff for policy, took a victory lap after the ruling. —Pamela N. Danziger, Forbes, 9 Dec. 2024

Nicholas Denny, a former Bibb County, Ga., sheriff's deputy, was revealed to have been fired by lead sheriff David Davis more than a year after the district attorney told the sheriff's office Denny lied about a local jailer committing a crime. —Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 9 Dec. 2024

Number two, there's going to be a -- there's going to be a deputy secretary. —ABC News, 8 Dec. 2024

Rob Flaherty, a deputy campaign manager for Harris, said that was because Harris had been in the Situation Room that day. —Jess Bidgood, New York Times, 7 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French deputé, past participle of deputer

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

deputy

noun

dep·​u·​ty ˈdep-yət-ē 

plural deputies

1

: a person appointed to act for or in place of another

2

: an assistant who usually takes charge when his or her superior is absent

deputy adjective

Legal Definition

deputy

noun

dep·​u·​ty ˈde-pyə-tē 

plural deputies

1

: a person appointed as a substitute with power to act

2

: a second in command or assistant who usually takes charge when his or her superior is absent

specifically : deputy sheriff

Etymology

Middle French deputé person appointed to exercise authority, from past participle of deputer to appoint, depute