delegate

1 of 2

noun

del·​e·​gate ˈde-li-gət  -ˌgāt 

: 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 

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

ˌde-li-gə-ˈtē 

noun

delegator

ˈde-li-ˌgā-tər 

noun

Did you know?

To delegate is to literally or figuratively send someone else in your place, an idea that is reflected in the word’s origin: it is a descendant of the Latin word lēgāre, meaning “to send as an envoy” (a messenger or representative). 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. (Note that the verb rhymes with relegate while the noun rhymes with delicate.) Some distant cousins of the word delegate that also trace back to lēgāre include legacy, colleague, relegate, and legate, “an official representative sent to a foreign country.”

Synonyms of delegate

Noun

• ambassador
• representative
• envoy
• minister

Verb

• appoint
• deputize

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

Noun

The United Arab Emirates has a contingency plan to deploy at least 1 million barrels a day, a delegate said. —Salma El Wardany, Fortune, 28 Feb. 2026

On September 17, 1787, the final day of the Constitutional Convention, the oldest delegate of the 55 was one of the last to be heard. —Michael Golden, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 Feb. 2026

Verb

The commander in chief has broad authority to personally classify or declassify documents as delegated by proper processes under Executive Order 13526, issued by Obama, said Liza Goitein, senior director of the Brennan Center’s Liberty and National Security Program. —Danya Gainor, CNN Money, 7 Mar. 2026

The orders had been delegated down to the field commanders. —March 2, CBS News, 2 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English delegat "papal legate," borrowed from Anglo-French & Medieval Latin; Anglo-French, borrowed from Medieval Latin dēlēgātus "representative," noun derivative from past participle of Latin dēlēgāre "to assign (someone to a task), appoint" — more at delegate entry 2

Verb

borrowed from Latin dēlēgātus, past participle of dēlēgāre "to assign (someone to a task), appoint, put in charge (of), entrust," from dē- de- + lēgāre "to send as an envoy, commission as a legate" — more at legate entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1530, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing delegate

• apostolic delegate
• walking delegate

Rhymes for delegate

• abdicate
• abrogate
• acetate
• activate
• actuate
• adsorbate
• aggravate
• agitate
• alginate
• alienate
• allocate
• amputate

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Kids Definition

delegate

1 of 2 noun

del·​e·​gate ˈdel-i-gət 

-ˌgāt

: a person sent with power to act for another : representative

delegate

2 of 2 verb

del·​e·​gate ˈdel-i-ˌgāt 

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 

: 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 

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