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
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
Sheriff’s deputies were first called to the church about 2:45 a.m. Saturday for had been reported as a break-in.
—
Darrell Smith, Sacramento Bee, 11 Feb. 2025
The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office said on social media that its deputies were dispatched for reports of gunfire at around 7:30 p.m. Monday night.
—Kerry Breen, CBS News, 11 Feb. 2025
At the scene, deputies discovered the victim was a 39-year-old off-duty corrections deputy.
—Christina Shaw, Fox News, 11 Feb. 2025
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) told his deputies Monday that the House won't put a Senate two-track bill on the floor, Punchbowl first reported.
—Justin Green, Axios, 11 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for deputy 
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Darrell Smith, Sacramento Bee, 11 Feb. 2025
The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office said on social media that its deputies were dispatched for reports of gunfire at around 7:30 p.m. Monday night.
—Kerry Breen, CBS News, 11 Feb. 2025
At the scene, deputies discovered the victim was a 39-year-old off-duty corrections deputy.
—Christina Shaw, Fox News, 11 Feb. 2025
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) told his deputies Monday that the House won't put a Senate two-track bill on the floor, Punchbowl first reported.
—Justin Green, Axios, 11 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for deputy
Dictionary Entries Near deputy
Cite this Entry
“Deputy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deputy. Accessed 22 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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