EnglishEdit

Alternative formsEdit

EtymologyEdit

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

PronunciationEdit

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

NounEdit

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.

Usage notesEdit

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.

SynonymsEdit

HyponymsEdit

Derived termsEdit

TranslationsEdit

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

See alsoEdit

VerbEdit

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

  1. (informal, nonstandard) to deputise

Further readingEdit