Dep
Abbreviation with 4 meanings
| Stands for | Dependent |
|---|---|
| Meanings | 4 |
| Categories | Medical, Law & Legal, Writing & Everyday, Military |
| Also written | DEP, Dep. |
Dep has four meanings. The most common are Dependent (rehabilitation) and Deposition (litigation); it can also stand for Deputy and Delayed Entry Program.
Meanings of Dep at a glance
| # | Dep stands for | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dependent | Medical › Rehabilitation |
| 2 | Deposition | Law & Legal › Litigation |
| 3 | Deputy | Writing & Everyday › Title and Honorific |
| 4 | Delayed Entry Program | Military › Military Term |
1. Dependent
Medical · Rehabilitation Abbreviations
Assistance level in which the patient contributes less than about 25 percent of the effort and others perform the task, sometimes with a mechanical lift. It is also called total assist.
Example: Bed mobility Dep x2; Hoyer lift for all transfers.
Recording dependent status alerts staff to use lifts, slide sheets or additional helpers. Long-term dependence in ADLs often qualifies patients for nursing home level care. Some notes write "Total A" instead.
2. Deposition (Dep.)
Law & Legal · Litigation Abbreviations
Out-of-court testimony of a witness given under oath and recorded by a court reporter, often on video, during discovery. Briefs cite deposition transcripts by witness, page and line, as in "Smith Dep. 45:3-12".
Example: The supervisor admitted he never read the complaint, Garcia Dep. 88:4-15.
The Bluebook's Bluepages list "Dep." as the citation form, while lawyers commonly say "depo" in conversation. Federal Rule 30 limits each side to ten depositions of no more than seven hours each without leave of court. New York calls a deposition an examination before trial (EBT).
3. Deputy (Dep.)
Writing & Everyday · Title and Honorific Abbreviations
Sheriff's deputies in US counties use this title before their names, and it also prefixes officials who act for or below a principal, such as a deputy director or deputy mayor.
Example: Dep. Sanchez of the county sheriff's office stopped the vehicle on Route 9.
A sheriff's deputy has full law-enforcement powers within the county. Organizational titles combine it as Dep. Dir. or Dep. Sec., while formal usage writes "Deputy Prime Minister" in full. In Britain, the abbreviation is less common than the spelled-out word.
4. Delayed Entry Program (DEP)
Military · Military Term Abbreviations
Program that lets recruits enlist and then wait up to a year before shipping to basic training, giving time to finish school or prepare physically. Recruits in the program are in the inactive reserve but receive no pay.
Example: He joined the DEP in October of his senior year and ships to boot camp in July.
The Army calls it the Future Soldier Program, and Marine recruits in DEP are called "poolees." Recruiters hold regular meetings and physical training for DEP members. Recruits can generally leave the program before shipping without penalty.
Related abbreviations
More rehabilitation abbreviations
- CKC – Closed kinetic chain
- COPM – Canadian Occupational Performance Measure
- CPM – Continuous passive motion
- DASH – Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand
- DGI – Dynamic Gait Index
- DME – Durable medical equipment
- EOB – Edge of bed
- FEES – Fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing
See all 98 rehabilitation abbreviations →
More litigation abbreviations
- Compl. – Complaint
- CPLR – Civil Practice Law and Rules
- Decl. – Declaration
- Def. – Defendant
- DJ – Declaratory judgment
- Dkt. – Docket
- EBT – Examination before trial
- ECF – Electronic Case Files
See all 71 litigation abbreviations →
This entry is for general education and is not medical or legal advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.