deputy

noun

dep·​u·​ty ˈde-pyə-tē 

plural deputies

1

a

: a person appointed as a substitute with power to act

b

: a second in command or assistant who usually takes charge in the absence of a superior

—often used before another noun

the deputy director

2

: a member of the lower house of some legislative assemblies

Synonyms of deputy

• 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

So the state’s second-largest school district set out to do it on its own, said Lucas Clamp, deputy superintendent of the 50,000-student Charleston County School District. — ABC News, 21 Aug. 2026

One deputy tried to use a taser to get the dog to stop, but to no avail. — Matthew Rodriguez, CBS News, 21 Aug. 2026

Stephen Feinberg, the private-equity billionaire turned DoD deputy, is planning $200 billion in deals with Wall Street partners. — Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 20 Aug. 2026

Television news cameras captured a man wearing a long, dark apron, believed to be Naugle, being taken into custody by Placer County sheriff’s deputies. — Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 20 Aug. 2026

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