deputize
verb
dep·u·tize
ˈde-pyə-ˌtīz 
deputized; deputizing
: to appoint as deputy
: to act as deputy
Examples of deputize in a Sentence
I deputize for the newspaper's editor on the weekends.
he deputized a local citizen to take charge of the situation while he went for reinforcements
Recent Examples on the Web
Though Davis contacted sheriffs in multiple border counties to deputize his LAPD officers and legitimize the blockade, only three agreed to his request.
—
Olatunji Osho-Williams, Smithsonian Magazine, 24 July 2025
Earlier this year, Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) strongly encouraged state and county law enforcement to become deputized to carry out certain immigration tasks through the Immigration and Nationality Act’s 287(g) program.
—Anna Giaritelli, The Washington Examiner, 23 July 2025
Most chief executives deputize their assistants to connect with assistants in other organizations.
—Andy McCullough, New York Times, 29 July 2025
In 2009, Huff was deputized as a DEA task force officer and assigned to the El Paso Intelligence Center, or EPIC, the agency’s main source of intelligence on Mexican drug cartels.
—Seth Harp, Rolling Stone, 28 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for deputize
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Olatunji Osho-Williams, Smithsonian Magazine, 24 July 2025
Earlier this year, Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) strongly encouraged state and county law enforcement to become deputized to carry out certain immigration tasks through the Immigration and Nationality Act’s 287(g) program.
—Anna Giaritelli, The Washington Examiner, 23 July 2025
Most chief executives deputize their assistants to connect with assistants in other organizations.
—Andy McCullough, New York Times, 29 July 2025
In 2009, Huff was deputized as a DEA task force officer and assigned to the El Paso Intelligence Center, or EPIC, the agency’s main source of intelligence on Mexican drug cartels.
—Seth Harp, Rolling Stone, 28 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for deputize
Cite this Entry
“Deputize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deputize. Accessed 19 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
deputize
verb
dep·u·tize
ˈdep-yə-ˌtīz
deputized; deputizing
1
: to appoint as deputy
2
: to act as deputy
Legal Definition
deputize
verb
dep·u·tize
ˈde-pyə-ˌtīz
deputized; deputizing
: to appoint as deputy
: to act as deputy
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share