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

Hobson and Lucas have been married since 2013 and share a daughter, Everest, who was born via surrogate in August 2013. —Gabrielle Rockson, Peoplemag, 12 Apr. 2024

In this era of attempts to undermine elections, Khanna, a leading surrogate for President Joe Biden’s reelection campaign, should be more responsible with his language. —Mercury News & East Bay Times Editorial Boards, The Mercury News, 11 Apr. 2024

Trump’s visit follows a string of visits from Biden and his surrogates in recent weeks, including Vice President Kamala Harris, first lady Jill Biden and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen. —Journal Sentinel, 2 Apr. 2024

Fortunately for him, the governor of the country’s second-largest state has become a reliable surrogate. —Jonathan Blitzer, The New Yorker, 31 Mar. 2024

Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff, Vice President Kamala Harris’ husband and a top Biden campaign surrogate, joined Florida Democratic officials in Coral Gables on Wednesday to launch the campaign’s Hispanic outreach initiative, Latinos con Biden-Harris, in Florida. —Max Greenwood, Miami Herald, 27 Mar. 2024

Biden gives an unscripted response During the State of the Union, one of his surrogates in Congress, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, wore a red cap with Trump's MAGA logo on it. —Franco Ordoñez, NPR, 8 Mar. 2024

Wilson welcomed her first child, Royce Lillian, via surrogate in November 2022. —Ingrid Vasquez, Peoplemag, 4 Apr. 2024

The Biden campaign, as a result, has scheduled visits for the president and a parade of surrogates through Arizona. —Laura Gersony, The Arizona Republic, 4 Apr. 2024

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