deputy

[dep-yuh-tee]

noun

plural

deputies 

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. mining another word for fireman

Other Word Forms

• deputyship noun
• subdeputy noun

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

Deputies discovered the victim, a resident of North Carolina, and Govantes acting suspiciously and loitering outside a Sephora store in Chino Hills on Saturday afternoon, according to deputies.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Before becoming president he had two years experience as a deputy in Argentina's Congress.

Read more on BBC

County sheriff’s deputies and held in lieu of $2-million bail, jail records show.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The Liberal Democrats have called on the government to "come clean on why this case fell apart" and publish all correspondence between the deputy national security adviser and the CPS.

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“Curb appeal is a very, very strong factor for home buyers who look at the home online,” said Jessica Lautz, the deputy chief economist and vice president of research at the National Association of Realtors.

Read more on MarketWatch

Related Words

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