surrogate

1 of 2

noun

sur·​ro·​gate ˈsər-ə-gət 

ˈsə-rə-,

-ˌgāt 

often attributive

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

: surrogate mother

3

: one that serves as a substitute

surrogate

2 of 2

verb

sur·​ro·​gate ˈsər-ə-ˌgāt 

ˈsə-rə-

surrogated; surrogating

transitive verb

: to put in the place of another:

a

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

b

: substitute

Examples of surrogate in a Sentence

Noun

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 on the Web

Noun

Shortly after learning her surrogate had gotten pregnant, Abraham tested positive for pregnancy as well. —Luke Chinman, PEOPLE, 23 Oct. 2025

But Speaker Emerita Pelosi’s daughter Christine, a national Democratic surrogate and strategist, has also been eyeing a run and would represent a significant hurdle for the senator if the Speaker Emerita endorsed her. —Barnini Chakraborty, The Washington Examiner, 18 Oct. 2025

Among many other ideas for the rewrites, Zendaya had pitched an idea in which Rue, who is now sober as a twentysomething young woman, would be a pregnancy surrogate. —Radhika Seth, Vogue, 17 Oct. 2025

Now four months later, their surrogate is pregnant — and their baby is expected in June. —Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 17 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

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

First Known Use

Noun

1603, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1533, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing surrogate

• surrogate mother

Kids Definition

surrogate

noun

sur·​ro·​gate

ˈsər-ə-ˌgāt,

ˈsə-rə-,

-gət

1

: one appointed to act in place of another : deputy

2

: a court officer in some states who handles the settling of wills

Medical Definition

surrogate

noun

sur·​ro·​gate -gət, -ˌgāt 

: 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

Legal Definition

surrogate

noun

sur·​ro·​gate ˈsər-ə-gət 

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

Etymology

Noun

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