deputy

noun

dep·​u·​ty ˈde-pyə-tē 

plural deputies

often attributive

1

a

: a person appointed as a substitute with power to act

b

: a second in command or assistant who usually takes charge when his or her superior is absent

2

: a member of the lower house of some legislative assemblies

Synonyms

• agent
• assignee
• attorney
• commissary
• delegate
• envoy
• factor
• minister
• procurator
• proxy
• rep
• representative

Examples of deputy in a Sentence

the club president sent a deputy to the conference to vote on our behalf

a deputy supervisor to help out with routine tasks

Recent Examples on the Web

Srinivas Phatak, Unilever’s current deputy CFO and group controller, will take over as interim CFO. —Karen Gilchrist, CNBC, 25 Feb. 2025

Before the announcement, Patel shared with allies that Robert Kissane, the acting FBI deputy director, was expected to remain in the position, CNN reported. —Escher Walcott, People.com, 24 Feb. 2025

Hinds County Sheriff Tyree Jones identified the slain deputy as 37-year-old Martin Shields, Jr., in a Facebook post. —Elizabeth Pritchett, Fox News, 24 Feb. 2025

President Donald Trump announced on Sunday night that Dan Bongino, a former Secret Service agent and a political commentator who hosts The Dan Bongino Show, will serve as deputy director of the FBI. —Zach Lachance, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 24 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French deputé, past participle of deputer

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

deputy

noun

dep·​u·​ty ˈdep-yət-ē 

plural deputies

1

: a person appointed to act for or in place of another

2

: an assistant who usually takes charge when his or her superior is absent

deputy adjective

Legal Definition

deputy

noun

dep·​u·​ty ˈde-pyə-tē 

plural deputies

1

: a person appointed as a substitute with power to act

2

: a second in command or assistant who usually takes charge when his or her superior is absent

specifically : deputy sheriff

Etymology

Middle French deputé person appointed to exercise authority, from past participle of deputer to appoint, depute