proxy

proxy — noun

1. the right to vote or make decisions for another person who is not able to be pre

1.nounB2
Definition

the right to vote or make decisions for another person who is not able to be present

Example

Bilal gave his brother the proxy to vote at the shareholders' meeting.

collocation: give (someone) the proxy

Board members can vote either in person or by proxy at the annual meeting.

phrase: by proxy

Common collocations
  • give (someone) the proxy
  • vote by proxy
  • appoint someone as proxy
  • hold a proxy
Synonyms
  • authority

    broader — can refer to any official power, not only delegated voting power

  • mandate

    stronger implication of a formal instruction from a group, often political

  • power of attorney

    a specific legal document granting broad authority; more formal than a proxy

Common Mistakes

I gave him proxy to sign the contract.
I gave him the proxy to sign the contract.
'proxy' in this sense is usually used with a determiner (the, my, his).

2. a vote that is cast for someone who cannot attend, or the official document that

2.nounB2
Definition

a vote that is cast for someone who cannot attend, or the official document that records this vote

Example

Tanvi submitted her proxy by email before the board meeting started.

collocation: submit a proxy

Each proxy must be signed by the shareholder and witnessed by a notary.

Common collocations
  • submit a proxy
  • collect proxies
  • count proxies
  • sign a proxy
Synonyms
  • proxy vote

    fully explicit but often redundant since 'proxy' alone carries the same meaning

  • proxy form

    specifically the physical or digital form used to submit a proxy

  • ballot

    a generic voting paper; does not imply delegation to another person

Usage Note

Often used in the plural (proxies) when referring to multiple votes or documents collected from different people.

Common Mistakes

I sent my proxy vote.
I sent my proxy.
'proxy' alone already means the vote or document; adding 'vote' is redundant.

3. someone officially chosen to carry out tasks — such as voting or signing papers

3.nounB2
Definition

someone officially chosen to carry out tasks — such as voting or signing papers — for another person who cannot do them

Example

Kwame acted as his uncle's proxy and signed the property documents.

collocation: act as (someone's) proxy

The elderly woman chose her daughter to be her proxy for medical decisions.

Common collocations
  • act as proxy
  • serve as proxy
  • appoint someone proxy
  • proxy for
Synonyms
  • representative

    broader term — a representative may have general authority; a proxy has specific, limited authority

  • delegate

    often implies being sent by a group or organisation rather than an individual

  • deputy

    suggests a standing role within an organisation rather than a one-time appointment

Usage Note

Distinguish from sense 1: sense 1 is the right/authority itself, whereas this sense is the person who holds that right. In legal contexts, a proxy (person) is often called a 'proxy holder' or 'proxy voter.'

Common Mistakes

He is a proxy for his boss, so he can make any decision he wants.
He is a proxy for his boss, so he can make decisions according to his boss's instructions.
a proxy must follow the wishes of the person they represent; they do not have independent authority.

4. a person or thing used instead of the original, doing a comparable job or standi

4.nounC1
Definition

a person or thing used instead of the original, doing a comparable job or standing in for it in a measurement

Example

In her study, sleep quality was used as a proxy for overall health.

pattern: proxy for [abstract concept]

The researchers used GDP as a proxy for the country's living standard.

Common collocations
  • proxy for
  • as a proxy
  • serve as a proxy
  • used as a proxy
Synonyms
  • substitute

    more general — can refer to any replacement, not necessarily an indirect measure

  • surrogate

    often implies a more direct one-to-one replacement in a specific role

  • stand-in

    informal; often used for people filling a temporary role

Antonyms
  • original

    the thing that the proxy stands in for

Usage Note

Common in academic and analytical writing. The thing being proxied for is typically an abstract concept that is difficult to measure directly, so researchers use a measurable proxy variable instead.

5. a computer system that acts as a middle point between a user's device and the in

5.nounB2
Definition

a computer system that acts as a middle point between a user's device and the internet, often used to improve security, speed, or control access

Example

The school's proxy server blocks access to social media sites during class.

collocation: proxy server

João configured the browser to connect through a proxy in Singapore.

Common collocations
  • proxy server
  • proxy settings
  • use a proxy
  • connect through a proxy
  • set up a proxy
Synonyms
  • proxy server

    the full technical term; 'proxy' is the common shortening

  • gateway

    a broader term for any system that connects two networks

  • VPN

    a different technology — a VPN encrypts all traffic, while a proxy typically works at the application level

Usage Note

In everyday speech, 'proxy' is often used as a shorthand for 'proxy server.' This sense is distinct because it refers to a machine or software, not a person or a right.

Common Mistakes

My proxy is not working.' (unclear — could mean the person, the document, or the server).
My proxy server is not working.
be specific in computing contexts to avoid ambiguity.

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four words involve giving someone the power to act on your behalf, but they differ in scope and formality. 'Authority' is the broadest term — it can cover any official or unofficial power to act, not necessarily tied to voting or a specific task. 'Mandate' carries a political or organisational flavour; it typically refers to a formal instruction from a group, such as voters giving a government a mandate to govern. 'Power of attorney' is a specific legal document that grants someone broad authority over your financial or medical affairs — it is more formal and permanent than a proxy, which is usually limited to a single event like a meeting. 'Delegation' emphasises the act of passing responsibility from one person to another within a group or hierarchy. For everyday voting situations, 'proxy' is the most precise word because it refers specifically to authority granted for a single meeting or vote.

authority ↗mandate ↗power of attorneydelegation ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • act as proxy
  • serve as proxy
  • vote by proxy
  • appoint a proxy

Prepositions

  • by (by proxy)

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

The word 'proxy' comes from the Latin 'procuratio,' meaning management or acting on behalf of someone. It passed through Anglo-French as 'procuratie' and was shortened in Middle English to 'proxie.' The abbreviation 'p.p.' (per procurationem), meaning 'through the agency of,' is still used when someone signs a document on another person's behalf.