delegate

1 of 2

noun

del·​e·​gate ˈde-li-gət How to pronounce delegate (audio) -ˌgāt How to pronounce delegate (audio)
: a person acting for another: such as
a
: a representative to a convention or conference
U.N. delegates from African nations
The nominee netted a handful of delegates in the state's caucus.
b
government : a representative of a U.S. territory in the House of Representatives
c
government : a member of the lower house of the legislature of Maryland, Virginia, or West Virginia

delegate

2 of 2

verb

del·​e·​gate ˈde-li-ˌgāt How to pronounce delegate (audio)
delegated; delegating

transitive verb

1
: to entrust to another
delegate authority
delegated the task to her assistant
2
: to appoint as one's representative

intransitive verb

: to assign responsibility or authority
a good manager knows how to delegate
delegatee noun
delegator noun

Did you know?

To delegate is, literally or figuratively, to send another in one’s place, an idea that is reflected in the word’s origin: it is a descendant of the Latin word legare, meaning “to send.” The noun delegate, which refers to a person who is chosen or elected to vote or act for others, arrived in English in the 14th century, while the verb didn't make its entrée till the early 16th century. Some distant cousins of the word delegate that also trace back to legare include legacy, colleague, relegate, and legate, “an official representative sent to a foreign country.”

Examples of delegate in a Sentence

Noun the U.N. delegates from African countries He's been chosen as a delegate to the convention. Verb A manager should delegate authority to the best employees. Those chores can be delegated to someone else. He doesn't delegate very well.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Rather, the able New York Sen. William P. Seward was perceived as the favorite, despite electability concerns amongst the delegates over his strong opposition to slavery. Michael Peregrine, Chicago Tribune, 18 May 2025 Read More: How Putin Missed His Shot at Peace In a sign of progress, the meeting of the Russian and Ukrainian delegates did result in an agreement to carry out the largest prisoner swap of the war, with each country committing to exchange 1,000 prisoners of war. Rebecca Schneid, Time, 17 May 2025
Verb
These individuals typically struggle to delegate or seek support, which can result in a profound sense of isolation. Lisa Bodell, Forbes.com, 23 May 2025 The tasks of the two groups will be delegated to the new commission. Emma Hall, Sacbee.com, 21 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for delegate

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

Middle English delegat, from Medieval Latin delegatus, from Latin, past participle of delegare to delegate, from de- + legare to send — more at legate

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1530, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of delegate was in the 14th century

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Cite this Entry

“Delegate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/delegate. Accessed 28 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

delegate

1 of 2 noun
del·​e·​gate ˈdel-i-gət How to pronounce delegate (audio)
-ˌgāt
: a person sent with power to act for another : representative

delegate

2 of 2 verb
del·​e·​gate ˈdel-i-ˌgāt How to pronounce delegate (audio)
delegated; delegating
1
: to entrust to another
delegate authority
2
: to appoint as one's delegate

Legal Definition

delegate

1 of 2 noun
del·​e·​gate ˈde-li-gət How to pronounce delegate (audio)
: a person empowered to act on behalf of another: as
a
: a person who is authorized to perform another's duties under a contract
b
: a representative to a convention (as of a political party) or conference
c
: a representative of a U.S. territory in the House of Representatives
d
: a member of the lower house of the legislature of Maryland, Virginia, or West Virginia

delegate

2 of 2 verb
del·​e·​gate ˈde-li-ˌgāt How to pronounce delegate (audio)
delegated; delegating

transitive verb

1
: to entrust or transfer (as power, authority, or responsibility) to another: as
a
: to transfer (one's contractual duties) to another
b
: to empower a body (as an administrative agency) to perform (a governmental function) see also nondelegation doctrine
2
: to appoint as one's representative

intransitive verb

: to transfer responsibility or authority
Etymology

Noun

Medieval Latin delegatus, from Latin, past participle of delegare to appoint, put in charge

More from Merriam-Webster on delegate

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