# deputy

/ˈdɛpjəti/ (US) · /dˈɛpjuːti/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/deputy
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. second-in-command

noun · CEFR B2

a person who is next in rank to a leader and can take their place if needed.

For teachers: an official who acts as a substitute or assistant to a superior, empowered to perform their duties in their absence.

- 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.

### 2. law enforcement officer

noun · CEFR B1 · American English

a police officer who works for a sheriff, especially in the United States.

For teachers: 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.

### 3. a politician

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

a member of the parliament or government in some countries.

For teachers: 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.

### 4. to act as a substitute

verb · CEFR C2 · Informal · Dialect

to do the work of a leader or superior for a short time.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- The deputy will lead the meeting while the manager is away.
- After the sheriff was injured, his deputy took charge of the investigation to ensure the town remained safe.
- The prime minister's deputy handled the delicate diplomatic negotiations while the leader focused on urgent domestic policy reforms during the economic crisis.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.