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
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
One of Trump’s deputy chiefs of staff, James Blair, will be a liaison to Congress.
—
Eric Cortellessa, TIME, 20 Jan. 2025
Trump plans to invoke a national emergency at the border as a way to unlock funding from the Defense Department for the administration’s use, according to Stephen Miller, Trump’s incoming deputy chief of staff for policy.
—Alexandra Banner, CNN, 20 Jan. 2025
His deputy, Fran García, has been consistent this season, but Carlo Ancelotti has doubts about his defensive abilities.
—Sam Leveridge, Forbes, 20 Jan. 2025
The deputies conducted research and found that the fire department did not exist, and that the fire truck was bought at an auction, the sheriff's department said.
—Megan Forrester, ABC News, 20 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for deputy 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Eric Cortellessa, TIME, 20 Jan. 2025
Trump plans to invoke a national emergency at the border as a way to unlock funding from the Defense Department for the administration’s use, according to Stephen Miller, Trump’s incoming deputy chief of staff for policy.
—Alexandra Banner, CNN, 20 Jan. 2025
His deputy, Fran García, has been consistent this season, but Carlo Ancelotti has doubts about his defensive abilities.
—Sam Leveridge, Forbes, 20 Jan. 2025
The deputies conducted research and found that the fire department did not exist, and that the fire truck was bought at an auction, the sheriff's department said.
—Megan Forrester, ABC News, 20 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for deputy
Dictionary Entries Near deputy
Cite this Entry
“Deputy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deputy. Accessed 23 Jan. 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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