deputy

[ dep-yuh-tee ]
See synonyms for: deputydeputies on Thesaurus.com

noun,plural dep·u·ties.
  1. a person appointed or authorized to act as a substitute for another or others.

  1. a person appointed or elected as assistant to a public official, serving as successor in the event of a vacancy.

  2. a person representing a constituency in certain legislative bodies.

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

Origin of deputy

1
1375–1425; late Middle English depute<Old French, noun use of past participle of deputer to depute

Other words for deputy

Other words from deputy

  • dep·u·ty·ship, noun
  • sub·dep·u·ty, noun, plural sub·dep·u·ties.

Words Nearby deputy

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use deputy in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for deputy

deputy

/ (ˈdɛpjʊtɪ) /


nounplural -ties
    • a person appointed to act on behalf of or represent another

    • (as modifier): the deputy chairman

  1. a member of the legislative assembly or of the lower chamber of the legislature in various countries, such as France

  1. British mining another word for fireman (def. 4)

Origin of deputy

1
C16: from Old French depute, from deputer to appoint; see depute

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012