delegate

[ˈdelɪɡət]

delegate Definition

• 1. a person sent or authorized to represent others, in particular an elected representative sent to a conference
• 2. entrust (a task or responsibility) to another person, typically one who is less senior than oneself

Using delegate: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "delegate" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

• Example

  The company sent a delegate to the conference.

• Example

  She was chosen as a delegate to represent her country at the United Nations.

• Example

  He delegated the task of hiring new employees to his assistant.

• Example

  I will delegate the responsibility of organizing the event to my team.

delegate Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms for delegate

• representative
• agent
• envoy
• ambassador
• proxy

Antonyms for delegate

• principal
• superior

Idioms Using delegate

• pass the buck (to someone)

  to shift responsibility or blame to someone else

  Example

  The manager tried to pass the buck to her subordinates when the project failed.

• put something on someone's plate

  to assign a task or responsibility to someone

  Example

  The boss put the new project on John's plate, knowing he had the skills to handle it.

• take the bull by the horns

  to confront a difficult situation head-on

  Example

  The CEO decided to take the bull by the horns and address the company's financial problems directly.

Phrases with delegate

• delegate authority

  to give someone else the power to make decisions and take action on behalf of oneself or a group

  Example

  The manager decided to delegate authority to her team members to make them feel more empowered.

• delegate responsibility

  to assign tasks and duties to someone else while still retaining overall accountability for the outcome

  Example

  The CEO delegated responsibility for the day-to-day operations of the company to her COO.

• delegate to someone's expertise

  to rely on someone's specialized knowledge or skills to complete a task or make a decision

  Example

  The project manager delegated to the software engineer's expertise to ensure the project was completed on time.

Origins of delegate

from Latin 'delegare', meaning 'send as a representative'

📌

Summary: delegate in Brief

A 'delegate' [ˈdelɪɡət] can be a person sent to represent others, such as an elected official attending a conference. It can also mean entrusting a task or responsibility to someone else, as in 'He delegated the task of hiring new employees to his assistant.' Phrases like 'delegate authority' and 'delegate to someone's expertise' are common, as are idioms like 'pass the buck.'