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

• delegate
• representative
• agent
• attorney
• minister
• manager
• ambassador

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

Talk about lucky, but in 2000, deputy commissioner Bill Daly flipped a coin to determine which team would pick first in the expansion draft versus third in the NHL entry draft as opposed to fourth. —Michael Russo, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025

As in Milwaukee, the callers will impersonate a sheriff deputy and indicate a legal matter needs to be resolved through payment. —David Clarey, jsonline.com, 6 Oct. 2025

Borjas is described as approximately 5 feet, 5 inches tall and approximately 155 pounds with blonde hair and blue eyes, deputies said. —Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 6 Oct. 2025

Immergut asked Eric Hamilton, deputy assistant attorney general for the federal programs branch of the civil division of the Justice Department. —Washington Examiner Staff, The Washington Examiner, 6 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids 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