delegate

Verb: /ˈdɛl.ə.ɡeɪt/, Noun: /ˈdɛl.ə.ɡət/ Formal

Say it: Verb: DEL-uh-gayt, Noun: DEL-uh-gut

1. verb To entrust a task, responsibility, or authority to another person, typically one who is less senior.
A good manager knows how to delegate tasks to the right people.
2. noun A person sent or authorized to represent others, especially an elected representative sent to a conference or convention.
Each state sent a delegate to the constitutional convention.
3. verb To authorize and send someone to act as a representative.
The board delegated two of its members to negotiate the contract.

📖 Seen in the wild

The manager decided to delegate the less critical tasks to her assistants.
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✏️ delegate in a sentence

She's trying to learn to delegate more, so she can focus on strategic planning.
The delegates at the international summit failed to reach an agreement.
The constitution delegates the power to declare war to the Congress.
He delegated the responsibility for organizing the event to his assistant.
As a perfectionist, he found it almost impossible to delegate control.
The union will elect a new delegate to represent the factory workers.
The CEO delegated authority to the regional managers to make their own hiring decisions.

🔁 Synonyms & antonyms

assign entrust commission appoint authorize empower depute hand over

assign · more general; you can assign a task without transferring final responsibility.

entrust · implies a higher degree of trust for a more important responsibility.

commission · more formal, often for a specific, one-time project, sometimes involving payment.

appoint · refers to officially choosing someone for a position or role.

Opposites: retain, centralize, concentrate, hoard, keep

🌱 Where it comes from

The word 'delegate' comes from the Latin 'delegare', meaning 'to send on a commission'. It is formed from 'de-' (away) and 'legare' (to send as an envoy). The core idea has always been about sending someone away with the authority to act on one's behalf.

🧩 How it's used

Common patterns:

delegate a taskdelegate authoritydelegate responsibilitya delegate to a conferenceelect a delegate

The most important thing to remember about 'delegate' is its dual pronunciation: the verb ends with a long 'a' sound (DEL-uh-gayt), while the noun ends with a short, unstressed sound (DEL-uh-gut). True delegation involves granting not just the task but also the authority to complete it. Be careful not to confuse it with 'relegate', which means to downgrade or consign to an inferior position.

Word family: delegation, delegator

💬 Quick answers

What does 'delegate' mean?

As a verb, 'delegate' means to entrust a task or authority to someone else. As a noun, a 'delegate' is a person chosen to represent a group.

What is the difference between 'delegate' and 'assign'?

To 'assign' a task is simply to give it to someone. To 'delegate' a task implies also giving that person the authority and responsibility to complete it on your behalf.

How do you pronounce 'delegate'?

The pronunciation depends on the part of speech. The verb is pronounced DEL-uh-gayt, while the noun is pronounced DEL-uh-gut.

Is 'delegate' a formal word?

Yes, 'delegate' is generally used in formal, professional, or political contexts. It is less common in casual conversation.

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