proxy

[prok-see]

See more synonyms for proxy on Thesaurus.com

noun, plural prox·ies.

the agency, function, or power of a person authorized to act as the deputy or substitute for another.
the person so authorized; substitute; agent.
a written authorization empowering another person to vote or act for the signer, as at a meeting of stockholders.

an ally or confederate who can be relied upon to speak or act in one's behalf.

Origin of proxy

1400–50; late Middle English prokesye, procusie, contraction of procuracy procuration. See procure, -acy

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for proxy

intermediary, surrogate, stand-in, ambassador, attorney, emissary, deputy, alternate, envoy, broker, negotiator, delegate, lawyer, executor, backup, substitute, representative, assignee

Examples from the Web for proxy

Contemporary Examples of proxy

Hoge joined in, waging a proxy battle against a liberal blogger who accused Walker et al. of being scammers.
The Weirdest Story About a Conservative Obsession, a Convicted Bomber, and Taylor Swift You Have Ever Read
David Weigel
August 30, 2014
People who intentionally hurt children for attention can be accused of Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy.
Republican Thinks Obama’s Mental Illness Caused Border Crisis
Gideon Resnick
July 11, 2014
We did not find any evidence, through both DNS lookups and proxy testing, that any of these URLs are blocked.
Iraq’s Internet Blockade Doesn’t Touch ISIS Sites
Gideon Resnick
June 20, 2014
Forced C-section debates often skirt or even devolve into a proxy pro-choice/pro-life debate, explains Diaz-Tello.
The Mom Forced to Have a C-Section
Emily Shire
June 5, 2014
Afghanistan was basically an instrument of the West in its proxy war against the Soviets.
Afghanistan: Building a Vision Of Hope and Change
Lloyd Grove
April 17, 2014

Historical Examples of proxy

Now, professor, I am ready to do the cooking, but I have a fancy for doing it by proxy.
In the Midst of Alarms
Robert Barr
I'll be at your house—your proxy; I shall do better than Black well.
Night and Morning, Complete
Edward Bulwer-Lytton
The blessing was pronounced by Gardiner, and the proxy marriage was completed.
The Reign of Mary Tudor
W. Llewelyn Williams.
You will wed her—she will bear your name; but you will marry her by proxy, and I shall be your proctor.
Samuel Brohl & Company
Victor Cherbuliez
Here the ceremony of marriage by proxy was to be solemnized.
Louis XIV., Makers of History Series
John S. C. Abbott

British Dictionary definitions for proxy

proxy

noun plural proxies

a person authorized to act on behalf of someone else; agentto vote by proxy
the authority, esp in the form of a document, given to a person to act on behalf of someone else
computing short for proxy server

Word Origin for proxy

C15: prokesye, contraction of procuracy, from Latin prōcūrātiō procuration; see procure

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

Word Origin and History for proxy

early 15c., proccy, prokecye, "agency of one who acts instead of another; letter of power of attorney," contraction of Anglo-French procuracie (c.1300), from Medieval Latin procuratia "administration," from Latin procuratio "a caring for, management," from procurare "manage" (see procure). Also cf. proctor (n.). Meaning "person who acts in place of another" is from 1610s.

proxy in Culture

proxy

A person authorized to act for another, or the written authorization to act for another.

Note

Shareholders in corporations may designate proxies to represent them at stockholders' meetings and vote their shares.