Cryptic crossword clue
Deputy of diminished reputation

The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 5 plus 2 letter word STAND IN

I've seen this crossword clue in Independent
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More clues leading to the result STAND IN

Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "Deputy" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case deputy = stand in.
The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.
This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.

What does STAND IN mean?

STAND IN noun
  1. A person of similar size and shape to an actor who "stands in" for that actor during the lengthy process of setting up a shot, but who, unlike a double, does not appear in the film.
  2. A substitute.

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