delegate

[ noun del-i-git, -geyt; verb del-i-geyt ]

noun

1. a person designated to act for or represent another or others; deputy; representative, as in a political convention.
2. (formerly) the representative of a Territory in the U.S. House of Representatives.
3. a member of the lower house of the state legislature of Maryland, Virginia, or West Virginia.

verb (used with object)

, del·e·gat·ed, del·e·gat·ing.

1. to send or appoint (a person) as deputy or representative.
2. to commit (powers, functions, etc.) to another as agent or deputy.

   Synonyms: transfer, assign, entrust

delegate

/ ˈdɛlɪɡəbəl /

noun

1. a person chosen or elected to act for or represent another or others, esp at a conference or meeting
2. government a representative of a territory in the US House of Representatives

verb

1. to give or commit (duties, powers, etc) to another as agent or representative; depute
2. tr to send, authorize, or elect (a person) as agent or representative
3. tr to assign (a person owing a debt to oneself) to one's creditor in substitution for oneself

Derived Forms

• delegable, adjective

Other Words From

• del·e·ga·tee [del-i-g, uh, -, tee], noun
• del·e·ga·tor [del, -i-gey-ter], noun
• non·dele·gate noun
• pre·dele·gate noun verb predelegated predelegating
• re·dele·gate verb (used with object) redelegated redelegating
• sub·dele·gate noun
• sub·dele·gate verb (used with object) subdelegated subdelegating
• un·dele·gated adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of delegate¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English (past participle) delegat, from Medieval Latin dēlēgātus, noun use of past participle of dēlēgāre “to assign,” equivalent to dē- de- + lēgātus “deputed”; legate

Word History and Origins

Origin of delegate¹

C14: from Latin dēlēgāre to send on a mission, from lēgāre to send, depute; see legate

Example Sentences

He said he would meet victims and delegate his current safeguarding responsibilities "until the necessary risk assessment process is complete".

From BBC

I will delegate all my other current responsibilities for safeguarding until the necessary risk assessment process is complete.

From BBC

But it quickly became clear, listening to the speeches and talking to delegates, that their definition of "unity" mostly meant crushing everyone else under the boot.

From Salon

The mood of delegates wasn't improved by the scale of the main task facing negotiators here.

From BBC

To do that he delegates his closest colleagues to analyse matches and opponents, looking for improvements, correcting mistakes and planning strategies.

From BBC

Related Words

• commissioner
• deputy
• envoy
• member
• minister
• nominee
• senator