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deputy

[ dep-yuh-tee ]
/ ˈdɛp yə ti /
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See synonyms for: deputy / deputies on Thesaurus.com
noun, plural dep·u·ties.
a person appointed or authorized to act as a substitute for another or others.
deputy sheriff.
a person appointed or elected as assistant to a public official, serving as successor in the event of a vacancy.
a person representing a constituency in certain legislative bodies.
adjective
appointed, elected, or serving as an assistant or second-in-command.
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Origin of deputy

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

OTHER WORDS FROM deputy

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

Words nearby deputy

depurate, depurative, deputation, depute, deputize, deputy, deputy minister, deputy sheriff, De Quincey, der., deracinate
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Words related to deputy

aide, appointee, commissioner, delegate, minister, representative, ambassador, backup, factor, legate, lieutenant, proxy, regent, replacement, sub, subordinate, substitute, surrogate, councilor, dogcatcher

How to use deputy in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for deputy

deputy
/ (ˈdɛpjʊtÉȘ) /
noun plural -ties
  1. a person appointed to act on behalf of or represent another
  2. (as modifier)the deputy chairman
a member of the legislative assembly or of the lower chamber of the legislature in various countries, such as France
British mining another word for fireman (def. 4)

Word Origin for deputy

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
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