deputy

/ˈdɛpjəti/

//ˈdɛpjəti// noun

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

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

The verdict

“deputy” is a regularly-used English word, ranked #2,726 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#2,726
frequency rank, English
6
letters
9
tracked misspellings
7
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - One appointed as the substitute of others, and empowered to act for them, in their name or their behalf; a substitute in office.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

deputy vs duty
67% similar
deputy vs depth
67% similar
deputy vs debut
67% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for deputy
PropertyValue
Headworddeputy
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈdɛpjəti/
Letters6
Frequency rank#2,726
Misspellings tracked9
Confusable pairs7
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “deputy” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). deputy lands here:

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

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for deputy is 6 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈdɛpjəti/. Corpus data places it at rank #2,726 in overall English word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. Wiktionary records 7 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 9 likely wrong-spelling variants for deputy, with forms such as "ddeputy", "depputy", and "deptuy". Each variant is a distinct typo pattern an edit-distance generator flags, typically a doubled-consonant error, a silent-letter drop, or a vowel substitution. It also participates in 7 confusable-pair relationships, "duty", "depth", "debut", and more, since the words sound or look close enough that writers reach for the wrong one mid-sentence.

Etymologically, the entry records: From French député, from Late Latin deputatus (“appointed”). The correct English form is deputy, spelled D-E-P-U-T-Y.

Definition

  1. 1
    One appointed as the substitute of others, and empowered to act for them, in their name or their behalf; a substitute in office.
  2. 2
    A person employed to install and remove props, brattices, etc. and to clear gas, for the safety of the miners.
  3. 3
    The name for a member of legislature in some countries.
  4. 4
    The name for a member of legislature in some countries.
  5. 5
    The name for a member of legislature in some countries.
  6. 6
    The name for a member of legislature in some countries.
  7. 7
    a law enforcement officer who works for the county sheriff's office; a deputy sheriff or sheriff's deputy; the entry level rank in such an agency.

Etymology

From French député, from Late Latin deputatus (“appointed”).

Synonyms

substituterepresentativelegatedelegateenvoyagentdeputyemissarylieutenantproxysecondarysurrogate

Antonyms

clientprincipal

This word in other languages

suplente(Español)adjoint(Français)Stellvertreter(Deutsch)deputado(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: ddeputy,depputy,deptuy,deputty,deputyy,depuyt,deupty,dpeuty,edputy

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of deputy - measured in single-character edits (insert, delete, or substitute a letter). Larger bars are easier to catch; one-edit slips are the sneakiest.

ddeputy1depputy1deptuy2deputty1deputyy1depuyt2deupty2dpeuty2
Edit distance from "deputy"

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 "deputy"?
"deputy" is spelled D-E-P-U-T-Y. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈdɛpjəti/.
What does "deputy" mean?
As a noun, "deputy" means: One appointed as the substitute of others, and empowered to act for them, in their name or their behalf; a substitute in office.
What words are commonly confused with "deputy"?
"deputy" is commonly confused with "duty", "depth", "debut". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "deputy"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "deputy" is /ˈdɛpjəti/. 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 "deputy"?
From French député, from Late Latin deputatus (“appointed”). 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.

Using “deputy”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is D-E-P-U-T-Y - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈdɛpjəti/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “duty” - see the side-by-side comparison. deputy vs duty
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

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

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list