deputy
Americannoun
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a person appointed or authorized to act as a substitute for another or others.
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a person appointed or elected as assistant to a public official, serving as successor in the event of a vacancy.
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a person representing a constituency in certain legislative bodies.
adjective
noun
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a person appointed to act on behalf of or represent another
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( as modifier )
the deputy chairman
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a member of the legislative assembly or of the lower chamber of the legislature in various countries, such as France
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mining another word for fireman
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of deputy
1375–1425; late Middle English depute < Old French, noun use of past participle of deputer to depute
Explanation
A deputy is a sheriff's assistant, the person who fills in when the sheriff isn't available. When a deputy is in charge, she has the same powers and authority as the sheriff. You can use the noun deputy for anyone who is singled out to step in for another person. A deputy leader of a government fills in when the president or prime minister is ill, and a magazine's deputy editor is qualified to edit an issue when the editor isn't available. The Middle French root is députer, "appoint or assign," from the Late Latin deputare.
Vocabulary lists containing deputy
Iroquois Constitution
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"Yummy" by G. Neri
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Fundamental Orders of Connecticut (1639)
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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.
Deputy Chief Constable Bobby Singleton said, while it might seem unusual to welcome a grade "adequate", the inspection "makes clear this performance comes in a context of long-term budget reductions and uncertain funding arrangements".
From BBC • Jul. 2, 2026
Expanding policies regarding biofuels could help farmers benefit from gains in productivity in raising crops, Deputy Agriculture Secretary Stephen Vaden said at The Wall Street Journal’s Global Food Forum in June.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 28, 2026
Ambassador Wendy Sherman, former Deputy Secretary of State under the Obama administration, understands the current situation better than most.
From Barron's • Jun. 25, 2026
Los Angeles County Deputy Public Defenders Donna Tryfman and Robert Krauss said in the statement that Gledhill’s “treatment and restoration efforts” will take priority before criminal court proceedings.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 23, 2026
The next day Deputy Tina Brooks met me at my parents’ office after school.
From "Three Little Words: A Memoir" by Ashley Rhodes-Courter
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.
