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
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
Trump also named Jim O'Neill to serve as deputy secretary of the Health and Human Services under Kennedy.
—
Joey Garrison, USA TODAY, 28 Nov. 2024
O’Neill also worked as the HHS principal associate deputy secretary during the George W. Bush administration.
—Sara Dorn, Forbes, 27 Nov. 2024
Trump on Tuesday also announced that Jim O'Neill, a former HHS official, will serve as deputy secretary of the sprawling agency.
—Compiled Bydemocrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 27 Nov. 2024
O’Neill has also held roles as managing director at Thiel’s Mithril Capital Management and principal associate deputy secretary at the Department of Health and Human Services during former President George W. Bush’s administration.
—Tara Suter, The Hill, 27 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for deputy 
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Joey Garrison, USA TODAY, 28 Nov. 2024
O’Neill also worked as the HHS principal associate deputy secretary during the George W. Bush administration.
—Sara Dorn, Forbes, 27 Nov. 2024
Trump on Tuesday also announced that Jim O'Neill, a former HHS official, will serve as deputy secretary of the sprawling agency.
—Compiled Bydemocrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 27 Nov. 2024
O’Neill has also held roles as managing director at Thiel’s Mithril Capital Management and principal associate deputy secretary at the Department of Health and Human Services during former President George W. Bush’s administration.
—Tara Suter, The Hill, 27 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for deputy
Dictionary Entries Near deputy
Cite this Entry
“Deputy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deputy. Accessed 3 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids 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
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