noun

delegate

/ˈdelɪɡət/ (noun); /dɪˈleɪɡət/ (verb) · say it: DEL·uh·gut (noun); dih·LAY·gut (verb)

to assign a task to another

In Actions & Behavior

In more detail

1. (noun) a person sent or appointed to represent others, especially at a meeting or conference

2. (verb) to give a task or responsibility to someone else, usually someone with less authority

Examples

1. Each country sent delegates to the international summit.
2. The manager delegated the project to her team members.

How to use delegate

As a noun, delegate refers to someone chosen to act on behalf of others, commonly in formal institutional settings. As a verb, delegate means to entrust work to someone else; it emphasizes assigning responsibility rather than just handing off work, and is essential for effective management and leadership.

Common phrases

delegate from
delegate to
send a delegate
appoint a delegate
delegate authority
delegate tasks

Synonyms

representative · envoy · deputy · agent · proxy

Word family

delegation · delegated · delegating

A common mistake

Learners sometimes use delegate as a synonym for simply 'assign' or 'give,' missing the implication that delegation involves transferring some authority or trust to the person undertaking the task.

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