delegate in English
- delegate⇄delegate, noun, verb, -gated,-gating.
- delegate⇄noun 1. a person given power or authority to act for others; representative.
Ex. Our club sent two delegates to the state meeting. The three Moroccan delegates to the former sultan of Morocco ... returned to Paris by air this morning (London Times) - delegate⇄v.i. to give over power or authority.
Ex. A terrorist ... must delegate to a rather sanguinary and unscrupulous class of subordinate (John Kenneth Galbraith). - delegate⇄v.t. 1. to appoint or send (a person) as a representative.
Ex. Each club delegated one member to attend the state meeting. The children delegated her to buy the flowers.
(SYN) depute.
2. to give over (one's power or authority) to anot
delegate in Gujarati ગુજરાતી
delegate in Kashmiri कॉशुर
delegate in Marathi मराठी
delegate in Sindhi سنڌي
delegate in Tamil தமிழ்
Delegate
Part of Speech
Verb, Noun
Pronunciation
/ˈdɛlɪɡeɪt/
Definitions
- Verb: To entrust a task or responsibility to another person, typically one who is more suited to handle it.
- Verb: To appoint someone as a representative for a particular duty or function.
- Noun: A person chosen or appointed to represent others, especially in a political or organizational context.
Usage Examples
- The manager delegated the responsibility of handling client communications to his assistant.
- The conference delegates met to discuss policies for the upcoming year.
- She was appointed as the delegate to represent the company at the annual trade show.
Etymology
From Latin delegare, meaning "to send with authority." The word is composed of de- ("away, from") and legare ("to send, to appoint"). First used in the 15th century to describe the act of sending someone to perform a task on behalf of another.
Synonyms
- Assign
- Appoint
- Designate
- Empower
- Entrust
Antonyms
- Retain
- Withhold
- Assume
- Keep
Translations
| Language | Translation | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Spanish | Delegar | /de.leˈɣar/ |
| French | Déléguer | /de.le.ɡe/ |
| German | Delegieren | /de.leˈɡiːɐn/ |
| Italian | Delegare | /de.leˈɡaːre/ |
| Portuguese | Delegar | /de.leˈɡaɾ/ |
| Chinese (Mandarin) | 委托 (Wěituō) | /wèi.tuō/ |
| Japanese | 委任 (Inin) | /i.nin/ |
| Korean | 위임하다 (Wimhada) | /wiː.mɪˈhɑː.da/ |
| Russian | Делегировать (Delegirovat') | /dʲɪlʲɪˈɡʲɪrəvətʲ/ |
| Arabic | تفويض (Tafweez) | /tæfˈwiːz/ |
| Hindi | प्रतिनिधि बनाना (Pratinidhi banana) | /ˈprətɪnɪdʰi bənɑːnɑː/ |
| Bengali | প্রতিনিধি নিযুক্ত করা (Pratinidhi niyukto kora) | /ˈprətɪnɪdʰi nɪˈjʊktɔ kɔɾɑ/ |
| Gujarati | પ્રતિનિધિ નિમણૂક કરવી (Pratinidhi nimanuk karvi) | /ˈprətɪnɪdʰi nɪˈmɑːnʊk kərvɪ/ |
| Punjabi | ਪ੍ਰਤਿਨਿਧੀ ਨਿਯੁਕਤ ਕਰਨਾ (Pratinidhi niyukt karna) | /ˈprətɪnɪdʰi nɪˈjʊkt kərnɑː/ |
| Marathi | प्रतिनिधी नेमणे (Pratinidhi nemne) | /ˈprətɪnɪdʰi ˈnɛːməɳe/ |
| Kannada | ಪ್ರತಿನಿಧಿ ಆಯ್ಕೆ (Pratinidhi aayke) | /ˈprətɪnɪdʰi aːːkɛ/ |
| Telugu | ప్రతినిధి నియామకం (Pratinidhi niyāmakam) | /ˈprətɪnɪdʰi nɪˈjɑːməkəm/ |
Regional Pronunciation Variations
The word "delegate" is pronounced similarly across most English-speaking regions, with slight variations in emphasis. In American English, the first syllable "del" is more emphasized, whereas in British English, the second syllable "gate" may be slightly more stressed.
Historical Usage
The word "delegate" emerged in the 15th century and was originally used in legal and governmental contexts to refer to representatives with the power to act on behalf of others. Over time, its usage expanded to cover all types of representation, including business, organizational settings, and more informal contexts.
Cultural Nuances
In different cultures, the practice of delegation is tied to various systems of authority. In hierarchical societies, delegates may be seen as trusted figures with significant power, whereas in more egalitarian cultures, the role of a delegate may be less centralized and more collaborative.
More Information
Delegation is a fundamental principle in organizational structures, whether in politics, business, or community leadership. It involves the distribution of tasks and responsibilities, often to individuals or groups that possess the necessary skills or authority. As a verb, "delegate" highlights the act of assigning a task to someone else, while as a noun, it refers to the person who carries out the assignment. Effective delegation helps increase efficiency and allows for more strategic focus in leadership.