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

I think, not that every kid can delegate reading their homework assignment or delegate memorizing their times table.

From Freakonomics

The state GOP’s governing board voted late Tuesday night to hold its convention in parking lots spread out across campus, with thousands of delegates seated in their vehicles and candidate speeches possibly piped in through car radios.

From Washington Post

To me, that’s a clear reflection that those delegates had been in prior communication with the candidate, or someone else.

From Voice of San Diego

I secured the delegate list, made the calls and many folks didn’t answer or return my call.

From Voice of San Diego

A local bill to overhaul disciplinary practices has been shelved as delegates in Annapolis debate broader changes statewide.

From Washington Post

“Welcome, welcome to Brooklyn,” the senator sang as each delegate descended from the bus.

From The Daily Beast

The Stalwarts hoped to swarm the convention and force a challenge to the delegate roll.

From The Daily Beast

Shaw put himself right alongside the line and took a minute to shake hands and greet each delegate.

From The Daily Beast

Under the Soviet regime, people preferred to delegate power and decision-making to others—Stalin, for example.

From The Daily Beast

Virginia State Delegate Barbara Comstock is the ur-Republican.

From The Daily Beast

One delegate said that he found fully one third of the men in his wards professing Christians.

From Project Gutenberg

A delegate of the Christian Commission sat down to write a letter for him to his wife, to be sent by a flag of truce.

From Project Gutenberg

The Tallest Delegate was called smartly to order; he rebelled, but when threatened with the sergeant-at-arms subsided amid jeers.

From Project Gutenberg

The delegate from Marion, like the mysterious person from Pulaski, was a stranger to state conventions.

From Project Gutenberg

The next morning the ejected delegate sailed for London, but soon went to Paris where he helped to form radical groups.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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