delegates

IPA/ˈdel.ɪ.ɡət/

KK[dˈɛləɡˌets]IPA/ˈdel.ə.ɡət/

delegatessingular
delegatesesplural

1.nounC1

Definition

people who attend a formal meeting on behalf of a group and speak or vote for it there

Example

The delegates from three schools compared lunch plans before the student council vote.

delegates from different schools before a vote

After breakfast, the delegates lined up to collect badges for the climate forum.

Common collocations

conference delegates
union delegates
delegates vote
student delegates

Synonyms

representatives
the broad everyday term for people speaking for a group
envoys
more formal and often linked to diplomacy
spokespeople
focuses on speaking publicly rather than voting officially

Grammar Patterns

delegates from + group

delegates vote on + issue

Usage Note

Often refers to people sent by unions, schools, or local groups to a meeting where decisions are made. When you just mean anyone attending an event, participant or attendee is usually broader.

Common Mistakes

The delegates was late for the vote.

The delegates were late for the vote.

'delegates' is plural, so it takes a plural verb.

IPA/ˈdel.ɪ.ɡeɪt/

KK[dˈɛləɡˌets]IPA/ˈdel.ə.ɡeɪt/

delegatespresent simple I / you / we / they
delegateses3rd person singular
delegatesing-ing form
delegatesedpast simple

1.verbtransitiveC1

Definition

gives a task, duty, or decision to another person so they handle it instead

Example

Romi delegates the travel bookings to Bao before each school trip.

delegate something to someone

Christopher delegates small repairs to the caretaker when the office gets busy.

Common collocations

delegate tasks
delegate responsibility
delegate authority
delegate complaints

Synonyms

assign
general word for giving someone a task
entrust
adds a stronger idea of personal trust
hand over
more informal and often used for giving up control

Grammar Patterns

delegate something to someone

delegate responsibility to someone

Usage Note

Object is usually a task, decision, or responsibility, followed by the person or team receiving it with to. It often suggests trusting someone else to handle the work.

Common Mistakes

Romi delegates Bao the budget report.

Romi delegates the budget report to Bao.

With this sense, the task normally comes before the person receiving it.

2.verbtransitiveC2

Definition

appoints people to act for a group at a meeting, vote, or other formal event

Example

Each branch delegates one teacher to speak at the annual meeting.

delegate someone to speak for a group

The club delegates Anjali to present its ideas at the youth forum.

Common collocations

delegate one teacher
delegate a member to speak
delegate parents to vote
delegate someone to represent the group

Synonyms

appoint
common formal word for choosing someone for a role
nominate
often suggests putting a name forward before final approval
send
broader and less formal because it may not imply official selection

Grammar Patterns

delegate someone to do something

delegate + person + to vote

Usage Note

Usually appears in formal settings where a group names someone to represent it at a meeting, conference, or vote. The chosen person is the direct object and is often followed by to plus a verb.

Common Mistakes

The union delegates to speak at the meeting.

The union delegates Mira to speak at the meeting.

This sense needs the person chosen as the object.

Word family

delegation
nounC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

For verb sense 1, delegate is close to assign when you simply give work to someone else, but delegate usually suggests that the other person has room to make decisions or act for you. Entrust adds a stronger feeling of personal trust and is often used for important or sensitive work. Appoint is different because it usually means officially choosing someone for a role, which is closer to verb sense 2. A manager can assign a report, delegate a decision, or appoint a representative depending on whether the focus is the task, the authority, or the formal position.

assign ↗entrust ↗appoint ↗

Etymology

LatinMedieval LatinFrenchEnglish

Delegate comes from a Latin verb meaning to send or assign someone to act for another person. English first used the noun for an official representative, and later developed the verb for handing work or authority to someone else.

First known use

14th century

14th century, in the meaning defined above Verb

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delegates

delegates — noun

1. people who attend a formal meeting on behalf of a group and speak or vote for it

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

delegates — verb

1. gives a task, duty, or decision to another person so they handle it instead

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

2. appoints people to act for a group at a meeting, vote, or other formal event

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

Word family

Synonym discussion

Etymology

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