noun
- a person designated to act for or represent another or others; deputy; representative, as in a political convention.
- (formerly) the representative of a Territory in the U.S. House of Representatives.
- a member of the lower house of the state legislature of Maryland, Virginia, or West Virginia.
verb (used with object), del·e·gat·ed, del·e·gat·ing.
- to send or appoint (a person) as deputy or representative.
- to commit (powers, functions, etc.) to another as agent or deputy.
noun (ˈdɛlɪˌɡeɪt, -ɡɪt)
- a person chosen or elected to act for or represent another or others, esp at a conference or meeting
- US government a representative of a territory in the US House of Representatives
verb (ˈdɛlɪˌɡeɪt)
- to give or commit (duties, powers, etc) to another as agent or representative; depute
- (tr) to send, authorize, or elect (a person) as agent or representative
- (tr) mainly US to assign (a person owing a debt to oneself) to one’s creditor in substitution for oneself
1520s (early 15c. as a past participle adjective), from delegate (n.). Related: Delegated; delegating.
late 15c., from Old French delegat or directly from Latin delegatus, past participle of delegare “to send as a representative,” from de- “from, away” (see de-) + legare “send with a commission” (see legate).