noun
Common
delegation
deh-lih-GAY-shuhn
Delegation (noun) means a group of people sent to represent a larger organization or country. Example: “A delegation of teachers met the minister to discuss the changes.”
noun
1
A group of people sent to represent a larger organization or country.
"A delegation of teachers met the minister to discuss the changes."
"The visiting delegation was welcomed with a short ceremony."
"A trade delegation from Japan arrived in London this week."
2
The act of assigning tasks or authority to someone else.
"Good delegation frees up your time for more important work."
"Her delegation of small jobs helped the whole team finish earlier."
"Effective delegation is one of the hardest skills for new managers to learn."
How to use delegation
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither a group representing others, or the act of handing off responsibility.
Common pairings
send a delegation
trade delegation
delegation of authority
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Word forms
- Plural
- delegations
Fill the gap
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A _____ of teachers met the minister to discuss the changes.
Etymology
Borrowed from Latin dēlēgātiō, dēlēgātiōnis, from dēlēgō: compare French délégation.
Synonyms
View more →
deputation
contingent
mission
assignment
devolution
entrustment
relegating
delegating
delegacy
commission
relegation
Related words
Rhymes for delegation
region
ablation
allusion
emulsion
ideation
novation
diffusion
elocution
extension
oxidation
perfusion
selection
See all rhymes for delegation →
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.'
