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noun Common

delegation

deh-lih-GAY-shuhn

Delegation (noun) means a group of people sent to represent a larger organization or country. Example: “A trade delegation from Japan arrived in London this week.”

noun
1
A group of people sent to represent a larger organization or country.
"A trade delegation from Japan arrived in London this week."
2
The act of assigning tasks or authority to someone else.
"Effective delegation is one of the hardest skills for new managers to learn."

How to use delegation

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishEither a group representing others, or the act of handing off responsibility.

Common pairings
send a delegation trade delegation delegation of authority

Word forms

delegations plural

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

A trade _____ from Japan arrived in London this week.

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin dēlēgātiō, dēlēgātiōnis, from dēlēgō: compare French délégation.

Origin: Latin

Related words

Rhymes for delegation

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Frequently asked questions

What does “delegation” mean?

The word “delegation” means a group of people sent to represent a larger organization or country. In plain terms, either a group representing others, or the act of handing off responsibility.

How do you pronounce “delegation”?

“Delegation” is pronounced deh-lih-GAY-shuhn (/dɛlɪˈɡeɪʃən/ in IPA).

How do you use “delegation” in a sentence?

Here is “delegation” used in a sentence: “A trade delegation from Japan arrived in London this week.”

What part of speech is “delegation”?

“Delegation” is a noun.

Is “delegation” a common word?

“Delegation” is a fairly common word in modern English.

How many meanings does “delegation” have?

“Delegation” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a group of people sent to represent a larger organization or country.

What is the difference between a 'delegation' and a 'delegate'?

A delegate is a single person chosen to represent others. A delegation is the whole group of such representatives sent to speak or act for a larger organization or country.

What is the difference between 'delegation' and 'deputation'?

Both words describe a group of people sent to represent others. Delegation is the more common term today, while deputation is more formal and now used less frequently.

What words commonly follow 'delegation'?

In the group sense, you often see 'a delegation from' a country or body, or 'a delegation to' a meeting. In the management sense, the common phrase is 'delegation of authority' or 'delegation of duties.'

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Definitions: FreeDict original editorial · etymology from Wiktionary