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

He gave Witkoff a medal, the Order of Lenin, to pass to a CIA deputy director whose mentally unwell son was killed fighting for Russia in Ukraine.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Sara Hashash, deputy regional director at Amnesty International, described the sentences as "unjust" and "an appalling indictment of the Tunisian justice system".

Read more on BBC

The CDC didn’t announce his appointment, but an internal database lists him as the agency’s principal deputy director, with a start date of Nov. 23.

Read more on Salon

However, the Labour leadership will be less comfortable if former deputy PM Angela Rayner - the architect of the initial proposals - expresses criticism.

Read more on BBC

The son of a deputy sheriff, he played varsity baseball in high school.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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