deputy
noun
dep·u·ty
ˈde-pyə-tē 
plural deputies
often attributive
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 in a Sentence
the club president sent a deputy to the conference to vote on our behalf
a deputy supervisor to help out with routine tasks
Recent Examples on the Web
After Johnny and his father pull off a miraculous job of capturing the bull, Grief has to keep Johnny from being arrested by San Bernardino deputy.
—
Literary Hub, 28 Oct. 2025
If agents plan to detain or arrest an individual, sheriff deputies must be present — but do not assist — to ensure safety.
—Vanessa Swales, jsonline.com, 27 Oct. 2025
Later that day, deputies went to Melodee and Ashlee's home in Lompoc.
—Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 27 Oct. 2025
In 2023, Valencia County deputies brought the case to the DNA Doe Project, and investigative genetic genealogists began putting together a family tree in hopes of identifying the woman, officials said.
—Paloma Chavez, Sacbee.com, 27 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deputy
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Literary Hub, 28 Oct. 2025
If agents plan to detain or arrest an individual, sheriff deputies must be present — but do not assist — to ensure safety.
—Vanessa Swales, jsonline.com, 27 Oct. 2025
Later that day, deputies went to Melodee and Ashlee's home in Lompoc.
—Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 27 Oct. 2025
In 2023, Valencia County deputies brought the case to the DNA Doe Project, and investigative genetic genealogists began putting together a family tree in hopes of identifying the woman, officials said.
—Paloma Chavez, Sacbee.com, 27 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deputy
Cite this Entry
“Deputy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deputy. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
deputy
noun
dep·u·ty
ˈdep-yət-ē
plural deputies
1
: a person appointed to act for or in place of another
2
: an assistant who usually takes charge when his or her superior is absent
deputy
adjective
Legal Definition
deputy
noun
dep·u·ty
ˈde-pyə-tē
plural deputies
1
: a person appointed as a substitute with power to act
2
: a second in command or assistant who usually takes charge when his or her superior is absent
specifically
: deputy sheriff
Etymology
Middle French deputé person appointed to exercise authority, from past participle of deputer to appoint, depute
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share