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delegate
[ noun del-i-git, -geyt; verb del-i-geyt ]
/ noun ˈdɛl ɪ gɪt, -ˌgeɪt; verb ˈdɛl ɪˌgeɪt /
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noun
a person designated to act for or represent another or others; deputy; representative, as in a political convention.
(formerly) the representative of a Territory in the U.S. House of Representatives.
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.
to send or appoint (a person) as deputy or representative.
to commit (powers, functions, etc.) to another as agent or deputy.
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Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.
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In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…
Origin of delegate
OTHER WORDS FROM delegate
Words nearby delegate
delectation, Deledda, delegable, delegacy, delegalize, delegate, delegation, delegatory, delegitimize, de Lesseps, delete
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use delegate in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for delegate
delegate
noun (ˈdɛlɪˌɡeɪt, -ɡɪt)
a person chosen or elected to act for or represent another or others, esp at a conference or meeting
US government a representative of a territory in the US House of Representatives
verb (ˈdɛlɪˌɡeɪt)
to give or commit (duties, powers, etc) to another as agent or representative; depute
(tr) to send, authorize, or elect (a person) as agent or representative
(tr) mainly US to assign (a person owing a debt to oneself) to one's creditor in substitution for oneself
Derived forms of delegate
delegable (ˈdɛlɪɡəbəl), adjectiveWord Origin for delegate
C14: from Latin dēlēgāre to send on a mission, from lēgāre to send, depute; see legate
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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