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

Hager finished his 35-year military career as deputy commanding general for operations, Cyber National Mission Force and mobilization assistant to the commander for USCYBERCOM. —Sal Pizarro, The Mercury News, 9 Nov. 2024

Firefighters and sheriff's deputies push a vintage car away from a burning home in Camarillo, Calif., on Wednesday. —Phil Helsel, NBC News, 8 Nov. 2024

By early August, Kim Jong-sik, deputy director of North Korea's munitions department had visited a KN-23 missile launch site near the Russia-Ukraine front with North Korean military officers, the NIS added, according to a translation. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024

The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office is one of the largest sheriff's offices in the nation, with upward of 3,000 employees, including deputies, jail guards and civilians. —Stephanie Innes, The Arizona Republic, 5 Nov. 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