depute

/dɪˈpjuːt/

//dɪˈpjuːt// verb

"depute" is a 6-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“depute” is uncommon English (frequency #74,892 among 3,470 “D” headwords), classed as a verb. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

#74,892
frequency rank, English
3,470
“D” headwords

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - To assign (someone or something) to or for something.

Corpus desk

Index EN-depute · depute · English

depute · rank #74,892 · 0 variants · 0 confusables

  • FREQ-RARE #74,892
  • LEN-LONG 6 letters
  • VOW-3 3 vowels
  • CONFUS-0 No pairs
  • VAR-0 0 variants
  • BOOK-MID 3,470
  • PHOTO-FINISH destructor

Nearest frequency peer: destructor (+1 rank slots)

Read with this headword: Spelling guide for this pattern

Desk codes from Wiktionary headword shape, FrequencyWords rank tier, confusable-pair count, generated misspelling depth, letter-cohort book size, and photo-finish peer. Not a difficulty grade.

Long-tail ranks near “depute”

Sparse band: bars invert rank so rarer forms read shorter

corpus weight

What this shows Long-tail view: where “depute” sits against similarly uncommon English ranks.

Source FrequencyWords open word-frequency list As of September 3, 2026
Key facts for depute
PropertyValue
Headworddepute
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
IPA/dɪˈpjuːt/
Letters6
Frequency rank#74,892
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Long-tail rank of “depute” in English

Word frequency stretches from the small set of words we reach for constantly (left) out to the long tail barely used once in a while (right).deputefalls in this rarity band:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

The axis is logarithmic, with each marked tick roughly ten times rarer than the last. Rare peers in the same band: “destructor” (#74,893), “demoralize” (#74,890), “delisting” (#74,889). Among 3,470 “D” headwords, “depute” is #74,892. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Rare enough to double-check

depute is uncommon English at frequency #74,892 among 3,470 “D” headwords, classed as averb, transcribed /dɪˈpjuːt/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 4 senses are on record.

We couldn't generate a plausible misspelling set for depute, which points to an orthography that plays by predictable English rules. This entry stands alone in our confusable dataset, which usually means its spelling is distinct enough that readers don't reach for a similar-looking word instead.

Etymologically, the entry records: From French députer, from Latin deputo. The correct English form is depute, spelled D-E-P-U-T-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    To assign (someone or something) to or for something.
  2. 2
    To delegate (a task, etc.) to a subordinate.
  3. 3
    To deputize (someone), to appoint as deputy.
  4. 4
    To appoint; to assign; to choose.

Recorded use

Wiktionary examples

These source excerpts show how depute appears in context. They illustrate usage; the definition above remains the entry’s reference meaning.

  1. Will Wyatt having moved up a notch, the project was deputed to a second team of producers whose judgement I didn't trust.
  2. There is no man deputed of the king to hear thee.

Etymology

From French députer, from Latin deputo.

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "depute"?
"depute" is spelled D-E-P-U-T-E. The IPA pronunciation is /dɪˈpjuːt/.
What does "depute" mean?
As a verb, "depute" means: To assign (someone or something) to or for something.
How do you pronounce "depute"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "depute" is /dɪˈpjuːt/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "depute"?
From French députer, from Latin deputo. See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Similar English words by spelling shape

Same letter count and similar misspelling depth for "depute", not the corpus desk frequency band.

Same letter count

Frequency-ranked English headwords with 6 letters (nearest by frequency rank).

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list