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

Vermont’s small congressional delegation is already left of center, and voters tend to like their own representatives, even when they dislike Congress as a whole, giving incumbents a significant advantage.

From Salon

A Hamas delegation is expected to meet with Egyptian and Qatari mediators in Cairo on Wednesday to discuss the proposal, according to an Egyptian official.

From Los Angeles Times

Earlier this year, Josephine joined delegations of unionized California healthcare workers who traveled to Washington with the aim of pressing lawmakers to oppose spending cuts.

From Los Angeles Times

For over 15 hours Soviet and American delegations met; for about five hours General Secretary Gorbachev and I talked, alone.

From Salon

He was a prominent critic of US nuclear policy and a long-serving member of the UK's delegation to the North Atlantic Assembly, the diplomatic arm of Nato.

From BBC

Related Words

• commission 
• contingent 
• embassy 
• gathering 
• organization