deputy

dep·u·ty

noun, often attributive \ˈde-pyə-tē\

plural dep·u·ties

Definition of DEPUTY

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

1. <the club president sent a deputy to the conference to vote on our behalf>
2. <a deputy supervisor to help out with routine tasks>

Origin of DEPUTY

Middle English, from Anglo-French deputé, past participle of deputer

First Known Use: 15th century

Related to DEPUTY

Synonyms: assignee, attorney, commissary, delegate, agent, envoy, factor, minister, procurator, proxy, rep, representative

Related Words: ambassador, diplomat, diplomatist, emissary, foreign minister, legate, plenipotentiary; alternate, backup, pinch hitter, relief, replacement, stand-in, sub, substitute, surrogate, understudy; informer, operative, spy; broker, distributor, manager; arbiter, arbitrator, comprador (or compradore), conciliator, go-between, intercessor, intermediary, interposer, liaison, mediator, middleman, peacemaker; mouthpiece, point man, point person, prophet, speaker, spokesman, spokesperson

see all synonyms and antonyms

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Other Government and Politics Terms

agent provocateur, agitprop, autarky, cabal, egalitarianism, federalism, hegemony, plenipotentiary, popular sovereignty, socialism