delegation

[ del-i-gey-shuhn ]

noun

1. a group or body of delegates:

   Our club sent a delegation to the rally.

2. the body of delegates chosen to represent a political unit, as a state, in an assembly:

   the New Jersey delegation in Congress.

   Synonyms: commission

3. the act of delegating.
4. the state of being delegated.

delegation

/ ˌdɛlɪˈɡeɪʃən /

noun

1. a person or group chosen to represent another or others
2. the act of delegating or state of being delegated
3. politics all the members of Congress from one state

Other Words From

• nondel·e·gation noun
• predel·e·gation noun
• redel·e·gation noun
• subdel·e·gation noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of delegation¹

First recorded in 1605–15; from Latin dēlēgātiōn-, stem of dēlēgātiō “assignment, appointment,” equivalent to dēlēgāt(us) “assigned, appointed” ( delegate ) + -iō -ion

Example Sentences

The Senate's censure, which passed 46-12, described Thorpe's actions as "disrespectful and disruptive" and said they should disqualify her from representing the chamber as a member of any delegation.

From BBC

Deputy Welsh First Minister and Rural Affairs Secretary Huw Irranca-Davies met a delegation of the farmers and spoke to the farming unions.

From BBC

Newsom is set to fly out Monday morning and, once at the Capitol, meet this week with members of California’s congressional delegation and key officials in the Biden-Harris administration.

From Los Angeles Times

He expects Trump’s team will be mining staffers in Susie Wiles’s team and in the state, whose congressional and Senate delegations came out early for Trump.

From BBC

The television host was eventually defeated by Senator John Fetterman, who McCormick will join in the Pennsylvania delegation next year.

From Salon

Related Words

• commission
• contingent
• embassy
• gathering
• organization