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
Racial profiling concerns Kendrick said the agreement doesn’t mean deputies will target people for immigration enforcement who aren’t already under investigation for criminal activity.
—
Rachel Spacek, Idaho Statesman, 25 Apr. 2025
The deputy then found that the passenger, a 17-year-old boy, had the loaded ghost gun, police said.
—Clifford Ward, Chicago Tribune, 25 Apr. 2025
The man, however, fled the courthouse before deputies arrived.
—Daniella Segura, Sacbee.com, 25 Apr. 2025
The sheriff’s office said deputies ended the pursuit after the driver took the vehicle across the divider and drove against traffic.
—Rick Hurd, Mercury News, 24 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deputy
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Rachel Spacek, Idaho Statesman, 25 Apr. 2025
The deputy then found that the passenger, a 17-year-old boy, had the loaded ghost gun, police said.
—Clifford Ward, Chicago Tribune, 25 Apr. 2025
The man, however, fled the courthouse before deputies arrived.
—Daniella Segura, Sacbee.com, 25 Apr. 2025
The sheriff’s office said deputies ended the pursuit after the driver took the vehicle across the divider and drove against traffic.
—Rick Hurd, Mercury News, 24 Apr. 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 3 May. 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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