deputy

[ dep-yuh-tee ]

noun

, plural dep·u·ties.

1. a person appointed or authorized to act as a substitute for another or others.

   Synonyms: proxy, emissary, envoy, surrogate, representative, agent

2. deputy sheriff.
3. a person appointed or elected as assistant to a public official, serving as successor in the event of a vacancy.
4. a person representing a constituency in certain legislative bodies.

adjective

1. appointed, elected, or serving as an assistant or second-in-command.

deputy

/ ˈdɛpjʊtɪ /

noun

1. 1. a person appointed to act on behalf of or represent another
   2. ( as modifier )

      the deputy chairman

2. a member of the legislative assembly or of the lower chamber of the legislature in various countries, such as France
3. See fireman
   mining another word for fireman

Other Words From

• depu·ty·ship noun
• sub·depu·ty noun plural subdeputies

Word History and Origins

Origin of deputy¹

1375–1425; late Middle English depute < Old French, noun use of past participle of deputer to depute

Word History and Origins

Origin of deputy¹

C16: from Old French depute, from deputer to appoint; see depute

Example Sentences

The Sheriff’s deputy ordered her to sign a ticket containing a promise to appear in court several months later.

From Voice of San Diego

The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department investigated and not only cleared Graham of battery — deputies went on to charge the woman with filing a false police report.

From Voice of San Diego

Erik Caldwell, the city’s deputy chief operating officer, followed up and here’s a summary.

From Voice of San Diego

Joe Levanthal, a Republican and former ethics commissioner, and Marni von Wilpert, a Democrat and deputy city attorney, advanced through the March primary.

From Voice of San Diego

Been is New York City’s deputy mayor for housing and economic development.

From Freakonomics

Patrick Klugman, the deputy mayor of Paris, said: “We are living our kind of 9/11,” he said.

From The Daily Beast

Coincidently, both he and the deputy shadow governor are Korengalis and Zalwar Khan knows them well.

From The Daily Beast

One is Dmitry Rogozin, the former ambassador to NATO and current deputy prime minister.

From The Daily Beast

Nick Clegg, the Lib Dem Deputy Prime Minister, attacked the Conservatives for their predictable response to the report.

From The Daily Beast

Ibrahim made clear to Deputy Dennis Meyer that his daughter was a respectful and dutiful girl of Sudanese extraction.

From The Daily Beast

The door was opened; and the deputy stood back, while the son of the Duke entered the vestibule of the prison.

From Project Gutenberg

Indeed, he thought the Englishman was some important official and took Chumru for his native deputy.

From Project Gutenberg

The district headman is the deputy of the tribal ward headman to whom he is immediately responsible.

From Project Gutenberg

After a preliminary defeat he was elected deputy at the time when Sallenauve sent in his resignation, in 1841.

From Project Gutenberg

He was a deputy sitting on the right and upholding the Royalist platform of Divine Right.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• aide
• appointee
• commissioner
• delegate
• minister
• representative