Dep″u‐ty (–ty̆), n.; pl.Deputies (#). [F. député, fr. LL. deputatus. See Depute.] 1. One appointed as the substitute of another, and empowered to act for him, in his name or his behalf; a substitute in office; a lieutenant; a representative; a delegate; a vicegerent; as, the deputy of a prince, of a sheriff, of a township, etc.
There was then no king in Edom; a deputy was king. 1 Kings xxii. 47.
God's substitute,
His deputy anointed in His sight. Shak.
☞ Deputy is used in combination with the names of various executive officers, to denote an assistant empowered to act in their name; as, deputy collector, deputy marshal, deputy sheriff.
2. A member of the Chamber of Deputies.
Chamber of Deputies, one of the two branches of the French legislative assembly; — formerly called Corps Législatif. Its members, called deputies, are elected by the people voting in districts.
Syn. — Substitute; representative; legate; delegate; envoy; agent; factor.