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 Word Forms

• nondelegation noun
• predelegation noun
• redelegation noun
• subdelegation 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

At the official song contest draw to decide the running order, international delegations are being treated to a Russian feast, including cottage cheese pancakes and gingerbread sporting the Intervision logo.

From BBC

Starting in January 2027, the state’s entire Republican delegation could fit in a Jeep Wagoneer, with plenty of room to spare.

From Los Angeles Times

On Monday, a US trade delegation said it had reached a "framework" deal with China amid wider trade negotiations in Madrid.

From BBC

Top level trade delegations from Beijing and Washington last met in Sweden in July, where they extended their tariffs truce by another 90 days.

From BBC

They even took a delegation from the shipyard to Strasbourg to lodge an official complaint against Remontowa's allegedly illegal state subsidies.

From BBC

Related Words

• commission 
• contingent 
• embassy 
• gathering 
• organization