1. A person appointed or empowered to act for another.
2. An assistant exercising full authority in the absence of his or her superior and equal authority in emergencies: a deputy to the sheriff.
3. A representative in a legislative body in certain countries.

[Middle English depute, from Old French, from past participle of deputer, to depute. See depute.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.