deputize
deputize Lexical Profile
deputize Game Scores & Validity
• verb
North American To appoint or authorize someone to act as a deputy, representative, or law enforcement officer.
"The county sheriff had to deputize several local volunteers to assist with the search and rescue operation."
British To temporarily act as a substitute or representative for another person in their absence.
"The senior manager asked her assistant to deputize for her at the afternoon board meeting."
Word Nuance & Usage
In American English, "deputize" is most commonly used transitively to mean appointing someone as a deputy, whereas in British English (often spelled "deputise"), it is primarily used intransitively with "for" to mean temporarily acting as a substitute for someone else.
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Coined in the early 18th century from the noun "deputy" plus the verb-forming suffix "-ize," ultimately tracing back through Old French to Late Latin "deputare" (to assign or allot).