WordGarden.ioproxy
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /prˈɒksi/
US
- /ˈprɑksi/
Meanings
Noun
a person or thing that serves in place of another
an intermediary server or service that relays requests between a user and another networked system
a person authorized to vote or act on someone else's behalf in a formal setting
More meaningsFewer meanings
a substitute measure, variable, or indicator used in place of something harder to observe directly
Adjective
serving or acting in place of another person or thing
used by a larger power to act or fight indirectly through another party
Beyond the definition
Imagine your friend can't make it to an important meeting, but you go in their place and speak for them. In that case, you are acting as their proxy. A proxy is a person or thing that acts for someone or something else. This is common with people: for example, you might give someone a proxy vote so they can vote for you when you cannot be there. It also appears in technology. A proxy server sits between you and the internet and passes requests along for you, sometimes adding privacy or control. Think of it as stepping into someone else's shoes for a while.
The word proxy has several closely related meanings, all built around the idea of representation or substitution. At its core, a proxy is a person authorized to act on behalf of another person. In legal, business, and political settings, it often means a stand-in who can use someone else's rights or carry out a duty for them. For example, you might appoint a proxy to vote at a shareholder meeting if you cannot attend, or allow someone to act for you in a formal decision.
However, proxy is not limited to people. In the digital world, a proxy server is an intermediary between your device and the internet. It receives your request and passes it on, then returns the response. Because of that role, it can be used for privacy, security, filtering, or access control. In science, economics, and statistics, a proxy can also be a measure that stands in for something harder to observe directly. For example, one number may be used as a proxy for a broader condition that cannot be measured in a simple way.
Historically, proxy comes from an older word related to acting for someone else, and that basic idea still connects all its uses. Whether it refers to a legal representative, a server in a network, or a measure used in place of another measure, a proxy is something that stands in for the original and acts or points in its place.
Examples
- 1
Legal representative
Since Elena was overseas, she asked her lawyer to attend the meeting as her proxy.
- 2
Voting
If you can't vote in person, you can vote by proxy.
- Phraseby proxy
through another person who acts for you
- 3
Workplace representative
His manager often speaks as a proxy for the whole team.
- 4
Survey data
In the survey, neighborhood was used as a proxy for income.
- Patterna proxy for + thing
something used to represent something else
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
International conflict
The two countries avoided a direct clash and fought a proxy war instead.
- Domainproxy war
a war fought through other countries or groups
- 6
Network technology
Our office network sends web traffic through a proxy server.
- Domainproxy server
a server that handles requests between your computer and the internet
See also
Similar
Shades of meaning
- surrogate
- stand-in
Contrast
- principal
- direct participation
Used with (collocations)
- vote by proxy
- act as a proxy
- proxy vote
- proxy statement
Word family
Explore
- authorization
- power of attorney
Forms and spellings
2 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- proxynoun
Forms
- proxiespluralnoun