deputy and lieutenant share a recorded sense, so the question is not what they mean but which one fits. deputy means “someone authorized to exercise the powers of sheriff in emergencies”. lieutenant means “a commissioned military officer”. lieutenant is the more common of the two in everyday English.
/ˈdɛpjəti/
1.n.someone authorized to exercise the powers of sheriff in emergencies
2.n.an assistant with power to act when his superior is absent
3.n.a member of the lower chamber of a legislative assembly (such as in France)
/luˈtɛnənt/
1.n.a commissioned military officer
2.n.an officer in a police force
3.n.an assistant with power to act when his superior is absent
| deputy | lieutenant | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /ˈdɛpjəti/ | /luˈtɛnənt/ |
| Said | DEH-pyuh-tee | loo-TEN-uhnt |
| Syllables | 3 | 3 |
| Letters | 6 | 10 |
| Parts of speech | noun | noun |
| Senses | 4 | 4 |
| How common | Common | Core |
| Synonyms | deputy sheriff | none recorded |
Full entry for deputy · Full entry for lieutenant · More comparisons