deputy

play

noun, often attributive dep·u·ty \ˈde-pyə-tē\

Definition of deputy

plural

deputies

1a : a person appointed as a substitute with power to actb : 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

See deputy defined for English-language learners

See deputy defined for kids

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 of deputy from the Web

Coleman replacement rating: 6/10 Jonjoe Kenny The rank outsider, but someone who is in with a worthwhile shout nonetheless, Kenny has his work cut out to become the deputy choice to Coleman on Merseyside.

— SI.com, "Koeman's Conundrum! Assessing the 4 Alternatives Everton Have to Seamus Coleman at Right-Back," 20 July 2017
After talking to the neighbors, deputies attempted to talk to the suspect.

— carol robinson, AL.com, "Authorities ID man shot, killed in confrontation with Jeffco deputies," 19 July 2017
Currently the deputy director of finance for Howard County, Ighile also worked as the county's bureau chief and controller as well as holding controller positions with American Trucking Association, National Children's Center and the Lt.

— andrew michaels, Howard County Times, "Martirano announces second round of administrative appointments," 19 July 2017
Deputies and police from several jurisdictions, including the Hamilton County Aviation Unit, responded to assist with locating the male who fled.

— sheila vilvens, Cincinnati.com, "Clermont County police search for bank robber," 18 July 2017
The Executive Branch Ethics commission approved by a 4-1 vote an eight-page qualified opinion in response to questions asked in a May 16 letter by J. Michael Brown, Beshear's chief deputy.

— tom loftus, The Courier-Journal, "Can Attorney General Beshear investigate Gov. Matt Bevin? It depends," 17 July 2017
That role was previously filled by Jamie Gorelick, a former deputy attorney general in the Clinton Administration who navigated Kushner through federal ethics rules during his transition to the White House.

— matt ford, The Atlantic, "A Shake-Up on the Trump Legal Teams," 14 July 2017
Like Adams, Robert Popper joined the Voting Section in 2005 and later became Coates' deputy.

— charles p. pierce, Esquire, "There's a Voter Suppression SWAT Team from the Bush Administration on the Loose," 7 July 2017
His defense also focused around what his attorneys said were weaknesses in the court order that failed to acknowledge times when deputies would detain immigrants and later hand them over to federal authorities.

— Washington Post, "Lawyers to make closing arguments at Arpaio’s criminal trial," 6 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'deputy.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of deputy

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

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First Known Use: 15th century

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Other Government and Politics Terms

agent provocateur, agitprop, autarky, cabal, egalitarianism, federalism, hegemony, plenipotentiary, popular sovereignty, socialism

DEPUTY Defined for Kids

deputy

play

noun dep·u·ty \ˈde-pyə-tē\

Definition of deputy for Students

plural

deputies

: a person who officially acts for or in place of another

Law Dictionary

deputy

play

noun dep·u·ty \ˈde-pyə-tē\

Legal Definition of deputy

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