delegate

delegate — noun

1. A person whom a group chooses to speak and vote on its behalf at a formal event

1.nounB1
Definition

A person whom a group chooses to speak and vote on its behalf at a formal event such as a meeting or convention.

Example

Each country sent two delegates to the climate summit in Geneva.

sent + delegates + to [event]

The union delegates voted against the proposed contract changes.

Common collocations
  • send a delegate
  • elect a delegate
  • choose a delegate
  • a delegate from [country/group]
  • a delegate to [event]
Synonyms
  • representative

    The most general term; a delegate is always a representative, but a representative may not have been formally elected or sent to a specific event.

  • envoy

    More formal and often diplomatic; an envoy is sent on a specific mission with higher authority than a typical delegate.

  • deputy

    A deputy stands in for a superior and has permanent substitute authority, whereas a delegate's role is usually temporary and event-specific.

Usage Note

Frequently appears in political, union, and committee contexts. The delegate speaks and votes on behalf of those who selected them.

Common Mistakes

The company sent a delegate to manage the office.
The company sent a manager to run the office.
A delegate represents people and voices their views; a manager runs operations.

2. A participant at a large formal gathering such as a conference, sent by an organ

2.nounB1
Definition

A participant at a large formal gathering such as a conference, sent by an organisation to observe, learn, or contribute to discussions.

Example

The conference had over five hundred delegates from Asia and Europe.

number + delegates from [region]

Felipe met several other delegates during the lunch break between sessions.

Common collocations
  • conference delegate
  • register as a delegate
  • a delegate from [company/country]
Synonyms
  • attendee

    A broader term for anyone present at an event; an attendee may have come on their own, while a delegate is sent by a group.

  • participant

    Focuses on active involvement; a participant joins discussions or activities, whereas a delegate may simply observe.

  • representative

    Emphasises the link to the sending organisation; a conference delegate is almost always a representative of a company, country, or institution.

Usage Note

Common in conference brochures, event planning, and political conventions. In this sense the focus is on attendance rather than the act of being elected.

Common Mistakes

She was a delegate of the marketing team.
She was a delegate from the marketing team.
Use 'from' to show which group sent the person; 'of' sounds like the person owns the team.

delegate — verb

Word family

  • delegation
    nounB2
  • delegator
    nounC1
  • delegable
    adjectiveC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

While all four words describe someone who acts for another person or group, they differ in scope and formality. A representative is the broadest term — it covers anyone speaking or acting on behalf of others, whether elected, appointed, or simply implied. A delegate is a specific type of representative who is formally chosen (often by voting) to attend a particular meeting or event and voice the group's position; the role is usually temporary. A deputy stands in for a specific superior and has the authority to make decisions in that person's absence — a permanent substitute role rather than a one-time assignment. An agent acts on someone else's behalf, often in business or legal matters, and typically has negotiating power rather than just a voice. An envoy is the most formal and is usually sent on a diplomatic or special mission. For example, a company might send an agent to negotiate a contract, a deputy to manage daily operations while the boss is away, but a delegate to vote at the industry association's annual meeting.

representative ↗deputy ↗agent ↗envoy

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • delegate to a conference
  • delegate from a country

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Delegate comes from the Latin word delegatus, meaning 'sent away with a commission'. It is formed from de- (away) and legare (to send as an envoy). In English, the noun form appeared first in the 1400s to refer to a person sent to represent others, and the verb sense of handing over tasks followed in the 1500s.