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

When that didn’t work, even after Kamala Harris took over the ticket, the movement expanded nationwide, sending 30 uncommitted delegates to the Democratic National Convention, where Alawieh, a Michigan delegate, personally urged Democratic leadership to allow a Palestinian American speaker at the convention.

From Slate

"It’s like they are taking money from our pockets," one delegate told BBC Climate Editor Justin Rowlatt as he was queuing up for food.

From BBC

After Kennedy dropped out of the race and endorsed Trump, the former president seemed eager to delegate responsibility for food policy to his new ally, telling supporters last month that “I’m gonna let him go wild on the food.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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