What does deputise mean?
To deputise is to stand in for another person and carry out their duties temporarily, usually because they are absent or unable to act themselves. The word is most at home in formal or professional settings — offices, schools, hospitals, government bodies — where roles are clearly defined and someone must be designated to step into them. For example, an assistant might deputise for a manager at a meeting, or a senior colleague might deputise for the director while she is on leave. In British English, deputise can also take a direct object, meaning to appoint someone as one's substitute: a minister might be deputised to answer questions in parliament. The verb derives from 'deputy,' which ultimately comes from the Latin 'deputare,' meaning to assign or allot. Its American spelling is 'deputize.' Useful and precise, deputise conveys both substitution and delegated authority, making it a valuable alternative to vaguer expressions like 'fill in' or 'cover for' when formality matters.
verbTo act or serve as a deputy, especially to perform someone else's duties in their temporary absence. In British usage, it often takes a direct object meaning 'to appoint someone as a substitute' (e.g., 'deputise someone for a task').
- To act as a substitute or deputy, performing another person's duties in their absence.
- (British) To appoint someone to act as one's substitute.
"When the head teacher was ill, the deputy deputised at the staff meeting."
"The senior nurse will deputise for the ward manager during her maternity leave."
"He was asked to deputise at the board meeting while the chairman travelled abroad."
When your boss is away, you don't just fill in — you deputise, borrowing a word that traces straight back to Latin for 'to send from'.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of deputise
The verb 'deputise' comes from the noun 'deputy', which entered English from French 'député', derived from the Late Latin 'deputare', meaning 'to assign, allot, or consider as'. The root combines the Latin prefix 'de-' ('from, away') with 'putare' ('to reckon, estimate'). Cognates include 'depute' (an older verb meaning to delegate), 'deputation' (a group sent on a mission), and 'deputization' (the act of appointing a deputy). The '-ise' suffix reflects standard British verb formation; the '-ize' variant is preferred in American English.
Related word forms
How deputise is actually used
'Deputise' is more common in British English; American English typically prefers 'deputize' (with -ize spelling) and uses it less frequently than phrases like 'fill in for' or 'substitute for.' It carries a formal or professional register, common in workplace, legal, and institutional contexts.
Easily confused with deputise
'Delegated' means formally assigning tasks or authority to another person, whereas 'deputise' means temporarily acting in someone's place yourself.