From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishdeputizedep‧u‧tize (also deputise British English) /ˈdepjətaɪz/ verb 1 REPLACE[intransitive] British English to do the work of someone of a higher rank than you for a short time because they are unable to do itdeputize for Jed could deputise for Stewart, if necessary.2 [transitive] American English to give someone below you in rank the authority to do your work for a short time, usually because you are unable to do it → delegate→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
deputize• My boss had to go to the Caribbean unexpectedly and asked me to deputize.• Carter was deputized by Dodge to take command of the tanker.• Not only did he have the cops, but he would deputize certain Union members to walk around the hall with guns.• He is required to deputize for the Assistant Dean and Dean as and when necessary.• Paine, the second in command, deputized for the Colonel.• The Foreign Minister will be deputizing for the Prime Minister while he recovers from his operation. 