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
Another investigator used an undercover profile to contact Slusher as others worked to identify him, deputies said.
—
Kate Linderman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 June 2025
Responding deputies found Lucas in the front yard of a nearby home at 11535 SW 224th St., about half a mile from the convenience store, and shot several times.
—Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 13 June 2025
Multiple adults, including the mother, were monitoring the group of children swimming when the boy drowned, deputies said.
—Kate Linderman, Kansas City Star, 13 June 2025
Some of the photos were taken of the apartment in 2019 by a Transit American Services Inc. employee, said deputy district attorney Joseph Cannon, who prosecuted the case.
—Caelyn Pender, Mercury News, 13 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for deputy
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Kate Linderman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 June 2025
Responding deputies found Lucas in the front yard of a nearby home at 11535 SW 224th St., about half a mile from the convenience store, and shot several times.
—Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 13 June 2025
Multiple adults, including the mother, were monitoring the group of children swimming when the boy drowned, deputies said.
—Kate Linderman, Kansas City Star, 13 June 2025
Some of the photos were taken of the apartment in 2019 by a Transit American Services Inc. employee, said deputy district attorney Joseph Cannon, who prosecuted the case.
—Caelyn Pender, Mercury News, 13 June 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 18 Jun. 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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