surrogate

verb sur·ro·gate \ ˈsər-ə-ˌgāt , ˈsə-rə- \

|Updated on: 8 Jul 2018

Examples: surrogate in a Sentence

Definition of surrogate

surrogated; surrogating

transitive verb

: to put in the place of another:

a : to appoint as successor, deputy, or substitute for oneself

b : substitute

Origin and Etymology of surrogate

Latin surrogatus, past participle of surrogare to choose in place of another, substitute, from sub- + rogare to ask — more at right

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1533

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

surrogate

noun, often attributive sur·ro·gate \ ˈsər-ə-ˌgāt , ˈsə-rə- , -gət \

Definition of surrogate

1 a : one appointed to act in place of another : deputy

b : a local judicial officer in some states (such as New York) who has jurisdiction over the probate of wills, the settlement of estates, and the appointment and supervision of guardians

2 : one that serves as a substitute

3 : surrogate mother

See surrogate defined for English-language learners

See surrogate defined for kids

Examples of surrogate in a Sentence

He could not attend the meeting, so he sent his surrogate.
The governor and her surrogates asked the public to support the change.
They had their baby through a surrogate.

Recent Examples of surrogate from the Web

The seven embryos are now in a freezer awaiting the results of research on how best to transfer them to surrogates.

— The Economist, "IVF may bring northern white rhinos back from the brink of extinction," 4 July 2018
In the first film, Blunt's FBI agent served as both an audience surrogate and a conscience.

— bill goodykoontz, azcentral, "'Sicario: Day of the Soldado' lacks ambition of the original," 28 June 2018
Ben Jealous, formerly the president of the NAACP and a prominent surrogate for Senator Bernie Sanders, won his Democratic primary in Maryland on Tuesday.

— sarah jones, The New Republic, "Tuesday’s primaries were a good night for the populist left.," 27 June 2018
In other countries, such as the U.K. and Belgium, surrogates can’t be paid a fee.

— glenn fleishman, Fortune, "Transplanted Wombs Provide Potential Path to Fertility for Millions of Women," 18 June 2018
Two candidates, businessman Andy Gronik and liberal activist Mike McCabe, sent video messages and had surrogates at the forum.

— bill glauber, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Democratic candidates for governor lay out plans at forum in Milwaukee," 18 June 2018
Kim's third child, Chicago West, was born via surrogate less than one month before Kylie gave birth to her daughter, Stormi Webster, in February.

— isabel greenberg, Harper's BAZAAR, "Kim Kardashian and Kylie Jenner Just Twinned in Skin-Tight Outfits and We're Seeing Double," 12 June 2018
Stone, who has been friendly with Trump for years, was an unofficial surrogate in the Trump campaign and appeared to have advance knowledge of the emails’ release.

— brittany wallman, Sun-Sentinel.com, "In the crosshairs, Roger Stone fires back," 12 June 2018
This close relationship might bode well for someday using southern white rhinos as surrogates for northern white embryos.

— New York Times, "Scientists See Promise in Resurrecting These Rhinos That Are Nearly Extinct," 24 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'surrogate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of surrogate

1603

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

Other Embryology Terms

gravid, neonate, ontogeny, parturition

SURROGATE Defined for English Language Learners

surrogate

noun

Definition of surrogate for English Language Learners

: a person or thing that takes the place or performs the duties of someone or something else

Medical Dictionary

surrogate

noun sur·ro·gate \ -gət, -ˌgāt \

medical Definition of surrogate

: one that serves as a substitute: as

a : a representation of a person substituted through symbolizing (as in a dream) for conscious recognition of the person

b : a drug substituted for another drug

c : surrogate mother

Law Dictionary

surrogate

noun sur·ro·gate \ ˈsər-ə-gət \

legal Definition of surrogate

1 : one acting in the place of another; especially : one standing in loco parentis to a child

2 often capitalized : the judge or judicial officer of a Surrogate's Court or Surrogate's office

—

surrogate

adjective

Origin and Etymology of surrogate

Latin surrogatus, past participle of surrogare subrogare to substitute, from sub- in place of, under + rogare to ask

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surrogate

Definition of surrogate

Origin and Etymology of surrogate

surrogate

Definition of surrogate

Examples of surrogate in a Sentence

Recent Examples of surrogate from the Web

First Known Use of surrogate

Other Embryology Terms

SURROGATE Defined for English Language Learners

surrogate

Definition of surrogate for English Language Learners

Medical Dictionary

surrogate

medical Definition of surrogate

Law Dictionary

surrogate

legal Definition of surrogate

surrogate

Origin and Etymology of surrogate

Learn More about surrogate

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