Synonyms of delegate

delegate 1 of 2

noun

ˈde-li-gət 

1

as in ambassador

a person sent on a mission to represent another

the delegate had a list of concerns to discuss with the country's new prime minister

Synonyms & Similar Words

• ambassador
• representative
• envoy
• minister
• agent
• diplomat
• legate
• consul
• emissary
• deputy
• proxy
• missionary
• spokesperson
• foreign minister
• attaché
• apostle
• nuncio
• procurator
• messenger
• ambassadress
• evangelist
• legation
• chargé d'affaires
• deputation
• courier
• mouthpiece
• detachment

2

as in representative

a person who acts or does business for another

the real estate developer sent a delegate to the town meeting to represent his interests

Synonyms & Similar Words

• representative
• deputy
• agent
• attorney
• manager
• minister
• proxy
• ambassador
• assignee
• rep
• envoy
• factor
• commissary
• procurator
• diplomat
• spokesperson
• surrogate
• substitute
• speaker
• plenipotentiary
• replacement
• foreign minister
• spokesman
• legate
• distributor
• diplomatist
• operative
• stand-in
• sub
• alternate
• liaison
• emissary
• spy
• broker
• arbitrator
• backup
• mediator
• arbiter
• informer
• intermediary
• relief
• pinch hitter
• conciliator
• peacemaker
• understudy
• middleman
• prophet
• point man
• intercessor
• mouthpiece
• point person
• comprador
• go-between
• interposer

delegate

2 of 2

verb

ˈde-li-ˌgāt 

1

as in to appoint

to appoint as one's representative

he delegated his son to go pick up the tickets for him

Synonyms & Similar Words

• appoint
• deputize
• commission
• assign
• depute
• nominate
• designate
• charge
• name

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• abrogate
• abdicate

2

as in to hand

to put (something) into the possession or safekeeping of another

a manager who is reluctant to delegate authority to subordinates

Synonyms & Similar Words

• hand
• leave
• transfer
• entrust
• give
• relinquish
• deliver
• pass
• transmit
• trust
• commit
• commend
• grant
• confide
• recommend
• vest
• hand over
• turn over
• assign
• loan
• submit
• consign
• confer
• give over
• distribute
• repose
• lend
• divide
• deal (out)
• will
• bequeath
• dispense
• furnish
• supply
• surrender
• turn in
• disperse
• yield
• hand in
• release
• hand down
• advance
• recommit
• hand on
• redeliver
• retransmit
• retransfer

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• hold
• retain
• keep
• withhold
• receive
• own
• possess
• accept
• reserve
• take
• hold back
• occupy
• detain
• take over
• take in

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of delegate

Noun

Its members included farmers, laborers, and reformers, and delegates included representatives from local unions and labor bodies. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 14 Aug. 2026

Under new rules approved by the DNC's Rules and Bylaws Committee, the DNC would not seat any of a rogue state’s delegates to the national convention and impose a $270,000 fine. — Stephen Gruber-Miller, Des Moines Register, 14 Aug. 2026

Verb

At issue was whether that work would get ahead of a larger question before the court over whether the General Services Administration could delegate its authority for such a project to the Executive Office. — Gary Fields, Los Angeles Times, 18 Aug. 2026

Wilson Tamfuh, a public and international law professor at the University of Dschang in West Cameroon, said the country has institutions that can keep the government running when the president delegates responsibilities. — Nimi Princewill, CNN Money, 15 Aug. 2026

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