Word
deputy
US/ˈdɛpjəti/
UK/dˈɛpjuːti/
Definitions
01second-in-command
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. a person who is next in rank to a leader and can take their place if needed.
n. an official who acts as a substitute or assistant to a superior, empowered to perform their duties in their absence.
日本語:代理※
“The deputy manager ran the office while the director was on holiday.”
“In the absence of the chairperson, the deputy is authorised to sign all legal documents and preside over the board meeting.”
Synonyms
02law enforcement officer
B1 · Intermediate Countable noun American English
n. a police officer who works for a sheriff, especially in the United States.
n. a law enforcement officer serving as an assistant to a county sheriff; often the entry-level rank in such agencies.
“The sheriff sent a deputy to investigate the car accident on the highway.”
“The deputy patrolled the rural county roads, maintaining a visible presence in areas far from the central station.”
Synonyms
03a politician
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Law Formal
n. a member of the parliament or government in some countries.
n. a member of a legislative assembly in certain jurisdictions, such as France or Ireland.
“The deputy stood up in parliament to argue against the new tax law.”
“As a newly elected deputy, she spent her first month in the chamber drafting amendments to the environmental protection bill.”
Synonyms
04to act as a substitute
C2 · Proficiency Informal · Dialect
v. to do the work of a leader or superior for a short time.
v. to perform the duties of a deputy or to act as a proxy for another person.
“He had to deputy for the captain after the injury occurred.”
“The junior partner was asked to deputy for the lead counsel during the preliminary hearing.”
Usage
This verb form is much less common than the noun; 'deputise' is the standard verb in most contexts.
Synonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “deputy” in context.
Verb
01. act as deputy
“He was asked to act as deputy while the regional manager was away on sick leave.”
verb + prep + noun
02. appoint a deputy
“The director decided to appoint a deputy to manage the department during her sabbatical.”
verb + noun
03. serve as a deputy
“She has served as a deputy for over ten years, gaining extensive administrative experience.”
verb + prep + adj + noun
Adjective
04. acting deputy
“The acting deputy will oversee the transition until a permanent replacement is found.”
adj + noun
05. newly appointed deputy
“The newly appointed deputy was eager to implement the new safety protocols.”
adv + adj
Noun
06. deputy prime minister
“The deputy prime minister represented the government at the international summit.”
noun + noun
07. deputy sheriff
“The deputy sheriff arrived at the scene within minutes of the emergency call.”
noun + noun
Real-World Examples
“Anna Kelly is currently White House deputy press secretary and works under Leavitt.” “Thenmozhi, the bureau's Southern Zone Deputy Director, told BBC Tamil that it had written to wildlife officials in Chennai asking them to verify documents and take appropriate action.” “Speaking in New York, UN Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq said the organization was following developments and stood ready to provide assistance.” “Schwartz, a deputy surgeon general in the first Trump administration, has publicly supported childhood vaccines.” Etymology
From French député, from Late Latin deputatus (“appointed”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domains
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/deputy
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0