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
Advertisement The blast left the courthouse filled with smoke as sheriff’s deputies, Santa Maria police and California Highway Patrol officers scrambled to find and hold McGuire.
—
Nathan Solis, Los Angeles Times, 27 Sep. 2024
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office praised the work of its deputies in a post on X, sharing bodycam footage of the rescue where officials are seen assisting the girl before her family was set to arrive.
—Danielle Jennings, People.com, 27 Sep. 2024
Mosley's family members made heart shapes with their hands, as he was led out of the courtroom by deputies.
—Chris Ramirez, Journal Sentinel, 26 Sep. 2024
Israel has taken out numerous high-ranking Hezbollah figures, including the chief of its elite Radwan forces, Ibrahim Aqil, and some of his deputies.
—Doha Madani, NBC News, 26 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for deputy 
Nathan Solis, Los Angeles Times, 27 Sep. 2024
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office praised the work of its deputies in a post on X, sharing bodycam footage of the rescue where officials are seen assisting the girl before her family was set to arrive.
—Danielle Jennings, People.com, 27 Sep. 2024
Mosley's family members made heart shapes with their hands, as he was led out of the courtroom by deputies.
—Chris Ramirez, Journal Sentinel, 26 Sep. 2024
Israel has taken out numerous high-ranking Hezbollah figures, including the chief of its elite Radwan forces, Ibrahim Aqil, and some of his deputies.
—Doha Madani, NBC News, 26 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for deputy
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'deputy.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near deputy
Cite this Entry
“Deputy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deputy. Accessed 6 Oct. 2024.
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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