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
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
Stephen Miller, the White House’s deputy chief of staff and homeland security adviser, has pushed for 3,000 arrests a day.
—
Dylan Butts, CNBC, 16 Sep. 2025
The foreign minister’s comments were confusing, but his deputy elucidated them in much clearer terms about the government’s self-conception.
—Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 16 Sep. 2025
The White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller soon suggested that the Supreme Court had actually ruled in the Administration’s favor.
—Cristian Farias, New Yorker, 15 Sep. 2025
When detaining Collins, a Miami-Dade deputy shot at the murder suspect, per Miami Herald news partner CBS News Miami.
—Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 15 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deputy
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Dylan Butts, CNBC, 16 Sep. 2025
The foreign minister’s comments were confusing, but his deputy elucidated them in much clearer terms about the government’s self-conception.
—Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 16 Sep. 2025
The White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller soon suggested that the Supreme Court had actually ruled in the Administration’s favor.
—Cristian Farias, New Yorker, 15 Sep. 2025
When detaining Collins, a Miami-Dade deputy shot at the murder suspect, per Miami Herald news partner CBS News Miami.
—Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 15 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deputy
Cite this Entry
“Deputy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deputy. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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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