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to deputize

to deputize

19 6.3
To give someone the right to act for another person for a short time
  • verb
  • /ˈdɛpjʊˌtaɪz/
  • US
translation icon : nombrar
  • They will deputize volunteers from the neighborhood to help manage the event.

You could have, you know, deputize whoever, just hey, I just want to let you know my guy walked in, had a gun, had a knife, had this, had that.

Examples

  • The mayor decided to deputize a local resident to help with the community patrol.

  • Consider yourself deputized.

  • We need to deputize you, huh?

  • I'll have to deputize you.

  • Governments can deputize individuals to act temporarily on their behalf.

    Academic text (2018)
  • You are deputized to ensure he follows Federation rules.

  • That's where our sheriff's program comes in; he said he will deputize the whole county if needed.

    Blog text (9)
  • The sheriff deputized the schoolmaster to be his bodyguard and show him the way.

    Fiction book (2002)
  • We can't be everywhere at once, so all our readers are deputized citizen journalists.

    Blog text (23)
  • In the Philippines, for instance, members of local fishermen's organizations and cooperatives have been deputized as fish wardens to patrol their fishing grounds.

    Academic text (1998)

Synonyms

to appoint
vsto deputize
  • Formal
580 3.2

Officially choose someone for a job or role

chooses someone for a temporary role replacing another person
to name
vsto deputize
  • Formal
456 2.8

To officially choose someone for a job or position

uses appointment to give someone a temporary substitute role rather than permanent
to designate
vsto deputize
  • Formal
124 5.0

To officially choose someone for a job or role

assigns someone instead to act temporarily in another's place
to depute
vsto deputize
  • UK
1 7.8

To choose someone to act for you

assigns someone specifically to act as a temporary substitute

Antonyms

to discharge
  • Formal
100 4.4

Officially release someone from a duty, job, or responsibility

70 3.3

To remove someone from their job

How Authorized

to empower
157 4.2
to deputize
  • US
19 6.3
to authorize
489 4.4
to appoint
  • Formal
580 3.2

Surface Forms

deputize infinitive
deputized past
deputized past participle
deputizing present participle
deputizes third person singular

Morphology

deputize = deputy (transparent) = deputy + ize

The verb is formed regularly from 'deputy' plus '-ize', meaning to make or act as a deputy.

Etymology

Deputize comes from deputy, which goes back to an old Latin word meaning 'to assign' or 'to choose someone for a job'. So to deputize someone is to give them your job for a time or to make them act as your official substitute.