What does "proxy" mean?

1. (a person acting for another) a person who has the authority to represent or vote for someone else. 2. (computing intermediary) a server that sits between your computer and the internet to improve security or speed. 3. (indirect measurement) something used to represent or measure a different value that is hard to find directly. 4. (proximity mine) a type of explosive mine that goes off when someone gets close to it. 5. (to act as a substitute) to perform a task or handle a request on behalf of someone or something else.

How do you use "proxy"?

Often used in the phrase 'by proxy'.

proxy

n. · v.

US //ˈpɹɑksi// UK //pɹˈɒksi// proxy

1 a person acting for another (n.)
B2 Upper Intermediate Formal Law

a person who has the authority to represent or vote for someone else.

an agent or substitute authorized to act on behalf of another person, particularly in voting or legal contexts.

Example

Since I couldn't attend the meeting, I asked my colleague to act as my proxy.

Example

The shareholder appointed a proxy to cast her votes during the annual general meeting, ensuring her interests were represented despite her absence.

Usage

Often used in the phrase 'by proxy'.
2 computing intermediary (n.)
C1 Advanced Technical Computing

a server that sits between your computer and the internet to improve security or speed.

a server or software application that acts as an intermediary for requests from clients seeking resources from other servers.

Example

The company uses a proxy to block dangerous websites and protect the office network.

Example

Configuring a transparent proxy allowed the IT department to cache frequently accessed content, significantly reducing external bandwidth consumption.
- intermediary
- gateway

Show 3 more sensesShow fewer

3 indirect measurement (n.)
C1 Advanced Academic Science

something used to represent or measure a different value that is hard to find directly.

a variable or measurement used as a substitute for another quantity with which it is correlated but which cannot be measured directly.

Example

Scientists use tree rings as a proxy for temperature changes in the distant past.

Example

In the absence of reliable census data, researchers used electricity consumption as a proxy for the economic growth of the region.
- indicator
- metric
- stand in
4 proximity mine (n.)
C1 Advanced Slang Informal

a type of explosive mine that goes off when someone gets close to it.

a clipping of 'proximity mine', referring to an explosive device triggered by the presence of a nearby object.

Example

Watch out for that proxy hidden behind the door in the game.

Example

The player strategically placed a proxy near the objective to deter the enemy team from capturing it.

Teacher's tip

This sense is specific to gaming communities and military contexts; it is not used in general business or academic English.
- mine
- explosive
5 to act as a substitute (v.)
C1 Advanced Technical Computing

to perform a task or handle a request on behalf of someone or something else.

to serve as a proxy for a person or to function as an intermediary server for a client device.

Example

The system is designed to proxy all web traffic through a secure filter.

Example

The application was configured to proxy requests to the backend API, effectively hiding the internal server architecture from the public internet.
- represent
- delegate

Etymology 1

Inherited from Middle English procucie, contraction of procuracie, from Anglo-Norman procuracie, from Medieval Latin procuratia, from Latin prōcūrātiō, from Latin prōcūrō (“I manage, administer”) (English procure). Compare proctor.

Etymology 2

proximity + -y.