delegation

noun

del·​e·​ga·​tion ˌde-li-ˈgā-shən 

1

: the act of empowering to act for another

the delegation of responsibilities

2

: a group of persons chosen to represent others

the state's congressional delegation

Did you know?

What Is a delegation?

The task of a delegation—each member of which can be called a delegate—is to represent a larger group, often at a conference. Thus, a delegation of nondoctors to a medical convention may want to make sure the rights and needs of patients aren't ignored, just as a delegation of laypeople may attend a religious conference to express the concerns of other laypeople.

Synonyms

• contingent
• delegacy

Examples of delegation in a Sentence

He's been chosen to lead the delegation to the conference.

a delegation from the local scout troop is being sent to the national jamboree

Recent Examples on the Web

The governor and the delegation will hold a closed-door meeting Tuesday morning that will include Biden administration officials from the U.S. Office of Management and Budget, U.S. Department of Transportation, U.S. Coast Guard, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. —Jacob Bogage, Washington Post, 9 Apr. 2024

State delegations have been assigned to their hotels. —Alison Dirr, Journal Sentinel, 8 Apr. 2024

The state’s 52-member delegation is the largest in the nation, and California’s independent redistricting process replaced the prior gerrymandering that created safe districts for both parties, resulting in more competitive races. —Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2024

During her last visit to Beijing, Yellen dramatically boosted business for a Yunnan restaurant chain and its mushroom dish after her delegation was spotted dining there. —Nectar Gan, CNN, 8 Apr. 2024

With those tensions in the backdrop, officials from the United States, Egypt and Qatar began meeting in Cairo on Sunday, as were delegations from Israel and from Hamas. —Matt Stevens, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2024

Netanyahu recently canceled a visit by an Israeli delegation to Washington after the U.S. declined to block a vote in the U.N. Security Council calling for a cease-fire in Gaza and the release of hostages taken by Hamas on Oct. 7. —Kathryn Watson, CBS News, 4 Apr. 2024

Daniella Levine Cava, Miami-Dade County’s first Jewish mayor, led a business delegation of more than 50 people to Israel in 2022 along with the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce. —Vinod Sreeharsha, Miami Herald, 29 Mar. 2024

All 37 delegations visited Malmö a couple of weeks ago to meet with Christer and his team and introduce their artists, who were not present. —Fred Bronson, Billboard, 28 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

see delegate entry 1

First Known Use

1555, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing delegation

• congressional delegation

Kids Definition

delegation

noun

del·​e·​ga·​tion ˌdel-i-ˈgā-shən 

1

: the act of delegating power or authority to another

2

: one or more persons chosen to represent others

Legal Definition

delegation

noun

del·​e·​ga·​tion ˌde-li-ˈgā-shən 

1

: the act of delegating

2

: a group of persons chosen to represent others