proxy

[prok-see]

noun

plural

proxies 

1. the agency, function, or power of a person authorized to act as the deputy or substitute for another.

2. a person authorized to act as a deputy or substitute for another; agent.

3. a written authorization empowering another person to vote or act for the signer, such as at a meeting of stockholders.

4. an ally or confederate who can be relied upon to speak or act in one's behalf.

5. Computer.

   1. a server or program that receives requests, filters them, and forwards them to a network on behalf of another computer or network which it represents under a surrogate IP address: used to provide anonymity or increased security or to carry out intermediate processing.

   2. a placeholder programming object whose function is to delegate the execution of an action to one or more other objects it controls access to, allowing the placeholder to carry out other processing before and after that action.

adjective

1. relating to or having the agency, function, or power of a person authorized to act as the deputy or substitute for another.

   If you are unable to reach the polls, you can choose a proxy voter to cast your ballot for you.

   Because of the distance to be traveled, a proxy groom stood in for the queen's future husband.

2. (especially of a conflict) occurring between states, people, etc., who are directed, influenced, or funded by other states, people, etc..

   Proxy wars were a major feature of the Cold War.

   The new CEO won control of the company after a proxy battle.

proxy

/ ˈprɒksɪ /

noun

1. a person authorized to act on behalf of someone else; agent

   to vote by proxy

2. the authority, esp in the form of a document, given to a person to act on behalf of someone else

3. computing short for proxy server

proxy

1. A person authorized to act for another, or the written authorization to act for another.

Shareholders in corporations may designate proxies to represent them at stockholders' meetings and vote their shares.

Word History and Origins

Origin of proxy¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English prokesye, procusie, contraction of procuracy “procuration”; procure, -acy

Word History and Origins

Origin of proxy¹

C15: prokesye, contraction of procuracy, from Latin prōcūrātiō procuration; see _procure

Example Sentences

Cdr Murphy warned that foreign powers were increasingly turning to young people in Britain as proxies.

Read more on BBC

In his opening remarks, Netanyahu displayed a map labelled The Curse that he said showed Iranian proxy groups across the Middle East.

Read more on BBC

The FTC also alleges that Ticketmaster is aware these brokers regularly bypass security measures and use proxy IP addresses.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

One of the contenders to replace Rayner, Lucy Powell, on Wednesday hit back at claims her deputy leadership bid was a "proxy" for a leadership bid by Burnham.

Read more on BBC

There are concerns that a return to fighting could lead to "proxy warfare in the region", according to Daniel Akech, an analyst at the Crisis Group think-tank.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• intermediary 
• stand-in 
• surrogate