Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense delegates, present participle delegating, past tense, past participle delegatedpronunciation note: The noun is pronounced (delɪgət). The verb is pronounced (delɪgeɪt).
1. countable noun
A delegate is a person who is chosen to vote or make decisions on behalf of a group of other people, especially at a conference or a meeting.
Synonyms: representative, agent, deputy, ambassador More Synonyms of delegate
2. verb
If you delegate duties, responsibilities, or power to someone, you give them those duties, those responsibilities, or that power so thatthey can act on your behalf.
He plans to delegate more authority to his deputies. [VERB noun + to]
How many of their activities can be safely and effectively delegated to less trainedstaff? [VERB noun to noun]
Many employers find it hard to delegate. [VERB]
[Also VERB noun]
Synonyms: entrust, transfer, hand over, give More Synonyms of delegate
delegationuncountable noun
A key factor in running a business is the delegation of responsibility.
Synonyms: deputation, envoys, contingent, commission More Synonyms of delegate
Synonyms: commissioning, relegation, assignment, devolution More Synonyms of delegate
3. verb [usually passive]
If you are delegatedto do something, you are given the duty of acting on someone else's behalf by making decisions, voting, or doingsome particular work.
Officials have now been delegated to start work on a draft settlement. [beVERB-ed to-infinitive]
Synonyms: appoint, commission, select, contract More Synonyms of delegate
delegate in British English
noun (ˈdɛlɪˌɡeɪt, -ɡɪt)
1.
a person chosen or elected to act for or represent another or others, esp at a conference or meeting
2. US government
a representative of a territory in the US House of Representatives
verb (ˈdɛlɪˌɡeɪt)
3.
to give or commit (duties, powers, etc) to another as agent or representative; depute
4. (transitive)
to send, authorize, or elect (a person) as agent or representative
5. (transitive) mainly US
to assign (a person owing a debt to oneself) to one's creditor in substitution for oneself
Derived forms
delegable (ˈdɛlɪɡəbəl)
adjective
Word origin
C14: from Latin dēlēgāre to send on a mission, from lēgāre to send, depute; see legate
delegate in American English
(ˈdɛləgɪt; for v., ˈdɛləˌgeɪt)
noun
1.
a person authorized or sent to speak and act for others; representative, as at a convention
2. US, Obsolete
a representative of a U.S. Territory in the House of Representatives, with the right to speak but not to vote
3. US
a member of a House of Delegates
verb transitiveWord forms: ˈdeleˌgated or ˈdeleˌgating
4.
to send or appoint as a representative or deputy
5.
to entrust (authority, power, etc.) to a person acting as one's agent or representative
Word origin
ME delegat < ML delegatus < pp. of L delegare, to send from one place to another, appoint, assign < de-, from + legare, to send: see legate
Examples of 'delegate' in a sentence
delegate
To delegate effectively you need to remember a few simple rules.
Harris, Jean Everything You Need to Know for Success in Business (1990)
Delegates passed a motion calling for schools to develop policies to tackle bullying.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
In other languages
delegate
British English: delegate /ˈdɛlɪˌɡeɪt/ NOUN
A delegate is a person chosen to vote or make decisions on behalf of a group of people, especially at a conference or meeting.
Over a hundred delegates attended the conference.
American English: delegate
Arabic: مَنْدُوب
Brazilian Portuguese: representante
Chinese: 代表
Croatian: delegat
Czech: delegát
Danish: delegeret
Dutch: afgevaardigde
European Spanish: delegado
Finnish: valtuutettu
French: délégué
German: Delegierter
Greek: αντιπρόσωπος
Italian: delegato
Japanese: 代表
Korean: 대표자
Norwegian: utsending
Polish: delegat
European Portuguese: representante
Romanian: delegat
Russian: делегат
Latin American Spanish: delegado
Swedish: delegat
Thai: ตัวแทน
Turkish: delege
Ukrainian: делегат
Vietnamese: đại biểu
British English: delegate /ˈdɛlɪɡət/ VERB
If you delegate duties, responsibilities, or power to someone, you give them those duties or responsibilities or that power, so that they can act on your behalf.
He wants to delegate more tasks to his employees.
American English: delegate
Arabic: يَنْتَدِبُ
Brazilian Portuguese: delegar
Chinese: 授权
Croatian: delegirati
Czech: delegovat
Danish: delegere
Dutch: delegeren
European Spanish: delegar
Finnish: valtuuttaa
French: déléguer
German: delegieren
Greek: αναθέτω
Italian: delegare
Japanese: 代表として派遣する
Korean: 위임하다
Norwegian: delegere
Polish: wydelegować
European Portuguese: delegar
Romanian: a delega
Russian: делегировать
Latin American Spanish: delegar
Swedish: delegera
Thai: มอบให้ทำแทน
Turkish: yetkilendirmek
Ukrainian: делегувати
Vietnamese: ủy quyền
Chinese translation of 'delegate'
delegate
(nˈdɛlɪɡɪt; vbˈdɛlɪɡeɪt)
n(c)
代表 (dàibiǎo) (位, wèi)
vt
to delegate sb to do sth委派某人做某事 (wěipài mǒurén zuò mǒushì)
to delegate sth (to sb)[task]委托(託)某事(给(給)某人) (wěituō mǒushì (gěi mǒurén))
(noun)
Definition
a person chosen to represent others at a conference or meeting
The rebels' chief delegate repeated their demands.
Synonyms
representative
trade union representatives
agent
You are buying direct, rather than through an agent.
deputy
France's minister for culture and his deputy attended the meeting.
ambassador
the German ambassador to Poland
commissioner
envoy
the Secretary General's personal envoy
proxy
She sent him as her proxy to board meetings.
depute (Scottish)
legate
Pope Innocent VI's legate
spokesman or woman or person
1 (verb)
Definition
to entrust (duties or powers) to another person
Many employers find it hard to delegate duties.
Synonyms
entrust
She entrusted her children to the care of their grandparents while she was away on a business trip.
transfer
Certain kinds of property are transferred automatically.
hand over
give
This recipe was given to me years ago.
They still give to charity despite hard economic times.
pass on
assign
Later in the year, she'll assign them research papers.
relegate
consign
devolve
the need to decentralize and devolve power to regional governments
2 (verb)
Definition
to appoint as a representative
Officials have been delegated to start work on a settlement.
Synonyms
appoint
It made sense to appoint a banker to this job.
commission
You can commission them to paint something especially for you.
select
contract
engage
We have been able to engage some staff.
nominate
It is legally possible for an elderly person to nominate someone to act for them.
designate
We need to designate someone as our spokesperson.
mandate
authorize
They authorized him to use force if necessary.
empower
The trustees of the museum are empowered to sell items from its collection.
accredit
The degree programme is fully accredited by the Institute of Engineers.
depute
A sub-committee was deputed to investigate the claims.
Additional synonyms
in the sense of accredit
Definition
to give official recognition to
The degree programme is fully accredited by the Institute of Engineers.
Synonyms
approve,
support,
back,
commission,
champion,
favour,
guarantee,
promote,
recommend,
appoint,
recognize,
sanction,
advocate,
license,
endorse,
warrant,
authorize,
ratify,
empower,
certify,
entrust,
vouch for,
depute
in the sense of agent
Definition
a person who arranges business for other people, esp. for actors or singers
You are buying direct, rather than through an agent.
Synonyms
representative,
deputy,
substitute,
advocate,
rep (informal),
broker,
delegate,
factor (Scottish),
negotiator,
envoy,
trustee,
proxy,
surrogate,
go-between,
emissary
in the sense of ambassador
Definition
a diplomat of the highest rank, sent to another country as permanent representative of his or her own country