Proxy
/ˈprɒk.si/
Definitions
4 meaningsA person authorized to act on behalf of another.
/ˈprɒk.si/
A person authorized to act for another.
He appointed a proxy to vote on his behalf at the shareholder's meeting.
💡 Simply: Imagine your friend can't go to a movie, so they ask you to go instead and tell them all about it. You are their proxy for the movie experience!
👶 For kids: A person or thing that does something for someone else.
More Examples
The lawyer acted as a proxy for the family in the negotiations.
She submitted her vote by proxy because she was unable to attend the meeting.
How It's Used
"Shareholders often vote by proxy if they cannot attend the annual meeting."
"The ambassador served as a proxy for the President at the summit."
The power or authority to act for another.
/ˈprɒk.si/
The authority to represent someone else.
The board members voted to grant the CEO proxy over key decisions.
💡 Simply: It's like having a permission slip that allows someone to act for you. For example, if you cannot be at a board meeting, the proxy gives someone the ability to vote for you.
👶 For kids: The right to do something for someone else.
More Examples
The proxy allowed him to manage her financial affairs.
Shareholders voted to revoke management's proxy because of poor performance.
How It's Used
"She granted her lawyer proxy to make decisions about her estate."
"The company issued a proxy statement to shareholders before the vote."
A server or program that acts as an intermediary for requests from clients seeking resources from other servers.
/ˈprɒk.si/
A server or program.
We used a proxy server to bypass the firewall.
💡 Simply: Imagine a proxy as a secret agent that protects your computer while you are online. It hides your location and allows you to access websites as if you were in a different location. This helps you browse privately and securely.
👶 For kids: A computer that helps you get on the internet secretly.
More Examples
The company used a proxy to secure its network.
A VPN provides an encrypted proxy to protect your data.
How It's Used
"Use a proxy to browse the internet anonymously."
"The proxy server cached the website to speed up access."
To authorize someone to act as a proxy, especially in voting.
/ˈprɒk.si/
To authorize someone to act as a proxy.
He was unable to attend the meeting, so he proxied his vote to a friend.
💡 Simply: To let someone else vote for you in a meeting.
👶 For kids: To give someone else permission to vote or act for you.
More Examples
The organization allows members to proxy their votes online.
She carefully considered who to proxy to before the vote.
How It's Used
"Shareholders can proxy their votes to a trusted representative."
Synonyms
Agent
Deputy
Authority
Authorization
Mandate
Cache
Gateway
Intermediary
Assign
Authorize
Delegate
Empower
Idioms & expressions
by proxy
Through an intermediary; by means of another.
"He felt the joy by proxy, watching his friend win the race."
From Latin *procuratio* (administration, agency), from *procurare* (to take care of, manage). Evolved through Middle English.
Used in early legal and business contexts, referring to acting on behalf of others.
Memory tip
Think of a stand-in. They are a representative acting in your place.