zástupn

Zástupn is not a standalone standard form in Czech; it is the stem of the adjective zástupný, which denotes something that serves as a substitute, stand-in, or proxy. The word is built from the noun zástup (substitution, stand-in) with the suffix -ný. The corresponding full forms are zástupný (masculine), zástupná (feminine), and zástupné (neuter).

The primary meaning of zástupný is that of substitution or replacement. It is used to describe something that stands in for another thing or acts as a placeholder. In linguistic or lexicographic contexts, zástupný can refer to substitute forms or expressions used in place of another. In everyday language, it can characterize temporary replacements, for example a person acting as a stand-in for someone else. In computing, the related phrase zástupný znak is common and refers to wildcard characters that stand in for other characters, enabling flexible matching (for example in search patterns).

The term also appears in various collocations that convey the idea of substitution or provisional use. While zástupný is the general adjective, it is often found in combination with nouns to specify the kind of substitution, such as proxy, placeholder, or temporary element, depending on the context. The concept shares parallels with similar words in other Slavic languages that express substitution or representation.

See also: zástupce (representative, substitute), zástupný znak (wildcard), placeholder terminology.