deputize
Americanverb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
deputizesimple
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deputizessimple
-
have deputizedperfect
-
has deputizedperfect
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am deputizingprogressive
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are deputizingprogressive
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is deputizingprogressive
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have been deputizingperfect progressive
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has been deputizingperfect progressive
Past
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deputizedsimple
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had deputizedperfect
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was deputizingprogressive
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were deputizingprogressive
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had been deputizingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of deputize
Explanation
To deputize is to appoint someone as a substitute, like a police deputy authorizing a civilian to make an arrest. The original meaning refers to when a deputy would give some of their power to non-police officers. When deputized, you took on some of the power of a deputy to help the real deputy. Similarly, deputizing can refer to making anyone a substitute. A teacher can deputize a student by putting them in charge of the class. A boss can deputize an employee by asking them to organize a meeting. Deputizing empowers someone to do a job.
Vocabulary lists containing deputize
March: Book Three
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Turning 15 on the Road to Freedom
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Zeitoun
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
He remains eighth in the line of succession and could, theoretically, be one of the royal clan called to deputize for the monarch if he fell seriously sick.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 7, 2025
As ByteDance throws every weapon it can against the bill, a key element of its strategy has emerged: deputize its army of TikTok “creators” to become informal lobbyists, asking them to plead the company’s case.
From Slate ● Mar. 18, 2024
The pangrams from yesterday’s Spelling Bee were deputize and deputized.
From New York Times ● Mar. 16, 2023
If you live too far away to give constant tech support, find a trusted local computer shop that does house calls or deputize another tech savvy relative.
From Washington Post ● Oct. 10, 2022
He bent his eyes on Bob: “Better get Brush to deputize you to make the arrest.”
From The Mountain Divide by Both, Armand
The Bank Secrecy Act, enacted in 1970, essentially deputizes banks to act as the first line of defense against money laundering.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 10, 2025
The Pulitzer Prize winner even deputizes her on-page doppelgänger to hire her protagonist at an unnamed Minneapolis bookstore that sounds a lot like the one Erdrich owns in real life.
From New York Times ● Nov. 24, 2021
Assistant Dino Toppmöller deputizes on the touchline and said Nagelsmann is closely involved with the tactics.
From Seattle Times ● Oct. 23, 2021
Wade, also deputizes private citizens to sue offenders for at least $10,000.
From Salon ● Sep. 17, 2021
This leader has an assistant or lieutenant to whom he deputizes great power.
From Quiet Talks on the Crowned Christ of Revelation by Gordon, S. D. (Samuel Dickey)
While at the CDC, O’Neill was often absent, those officials said, and he deputized Beyda to run much of the agency’s day-to-day operations for him, people familiar with the matter said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 2, 2026
The defense has rarely, if ever, directly countered any of the accusations from the prosecution—i.e., that SBF personally deputized his lieutenants to do various crimes like defrauding customers and investors.
From Slate ● Oct. 25, 2023
After “The Last Waltz,” he deputized Robertson to be his music consultant and soundtrack supervisor.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 10, 2023
He deputized Robert Ellsberg, who was then 13 years old, to help make copies.
From New York Times ● Jun. 21, 2023
Four hundred Customs and Border Protection agents and officers deputized for local law enforcement.
From "Zeitoun" by Dave Eggers
Houser went on to explain that there are a few different permutations of deputization the administration could pursue, including deputizing National Guard troops or local law enforcement before they start using private contractors.
From Salon ● Jul. 26, 2025
“They are a triple act,” he said, with the queen deputizing when needed.
From Washington Post ● May 10, 2022
This time, the goal would be to spread Mr. James’s name and face — in effect deputizing every New Yorker with a smartphone by giving them their own personal wanted poster.
From New York Times ● Apr. 16, 2022
For years, the FAA has relied on Boeing employees to certify the airworthiness of planes by deputizing some company employees to act on behalf of the agency.
From Washington Times ● Feb. 15, 2022
Just imagine what an advantage it would be to have angels deputizing, to use a horrible but convenient word, for Quinston and Lord Hugo Sizzle, for example.
From The Chronicles of Clovis by Saki
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
