deputy

Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary
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English[edit]

Alternative forms[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From French député, from Late Latin deputatus (appointed).

Pronunciation[edit]

  • (UK) IPA(key): /ˈdɛpjəti/
  • (US) IPA(key): /ˈdɛpjəti/, /ˈdɛpəti/
  • (file)

Noun[edit]

deputy (plural deputies)

  1. One appointed as the substitute of others, and empowered to act for them, in their name or their behalf; a substitute in office.
    the deputy of a prince
    The deputy sheriff was promoted after his senior retired.
    As the deputy store manager, he is able to fire staff.
    Synonyms: lieutenant, representative, delegate, vice, vicegerent
  2. (mining, historical) A person employed to install and remove props, brattices, etc. and to clear gas, for the safety of the miners.
  3. (France) A member of the Chamber of Deputies, formerly called Corps Législatif.
  4. (Ireland) a member of Dáil Éireann, or the title of a member of Dáil Éireann. (Normally capitalised in both cases).
    Eamon Ryan is a deputy in the Dáil.
    At today's meeting, Deputy Ryan will speak on local issues.
  5. (US) a law enforcement officer who works for the county sheriff's office; a deputy sheriff or sheriff's deputy; the entry level rank in such an agency.
    The sheriff's deputies took the suspect into custody.
    Deputy Jones was promoted to corporal today.
  6. (government) The name for a member of parliament in some countries.
    The State Duma comprises 450 deputies.

Usage notes[edit]

Deputy is used in combination with the names of various executive officers, to denote an assistant empowered to act in their name; as, deputy collector, deputy marshal, deputy sheriff. In the British coal mining industry, the word referred to as a deputy overman, which was roughly akin to a foreman in other industries.

Synonyms[edit]

Hyponyms[edit]

Derived terms[edit]

Translations[edit]

The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.

See also[edit]

Verb[edit]

deputy (third-person singular simple present deputies, present participle deputying, simple past and past participle deputied)

  1. (informal, nonstandard) to deputise

Further reading[edit]