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
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
Records showed that Worthy had been arrested Friday by deputies and held in the county jail on a charge of assault on a family or household member in which their breath was impeded, or choking in common terms.
—
Dave Skretta, Chicago Tribune, 9 Mar. 2025
Consequently, if work requirements are imposed on nondisabled, working-age Medicaid recipients, that would affect a large number of people who are not currently in compliance, said Kevin Corinth, deputy director at the Center on Opportunity and Social Mobility at the American Enterprise Institute.
—Lorie Konish, CNBC, 9 Mar. 2025
Unlike corporation counsel, Mastro wouldn’t need Council confirmation to serve as first deputy.
—Chris Sommerfeldt, New York Daily News, 7 Mar. 2025
Keith Sonderling, the president’s choice to be deputy secretary of Labor, cleared a committee confirmation vote along party lines in advance of consideration by the full Senate.
—Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 7 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deputy
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show current usage.
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Dave Skretta, Chicago Tribune, 9 Mar. 2025
Consequently, if work requirements are imposed on nondisabled, working-age Medicaid recipients, that would affect a large number of people who are not currently in compliance, said Kevin Corinth, deputy director at the Center on Opportunity and Social Mobility at the American Enterprise Institute.
—Lorie Konish, CNBC, 9 Mar. 2025
Unlike corporation counsel, Mastro wouldn’t need Council confirmation to serve as first deputy.
—Chris Sommerfeldt, New York Daily News, 7 Mar. 2025
Keith Sonderling, the president’s choice to be deputy secretary of Labor, cleared a committee confirmation vote along party lines in advance of consideration by the full Senate.
—Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 7 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deputy
Cite this Entry
“Deputy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deputy. Accessed 15 Mar. 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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