Delegation
ˌdɛlɪˈɡeɪʃən
Definitions
The act of assigning or entrusting someone to do a task; or a group of people chosen or elected to represent a larger group.
ˌdɛlɪˈɡeɪʃən
The act of delegating, or the state of being delegated; a group of people representing others.
The CEO announced a delegation of responsibilities to the regional managers.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're in charge, but you can't do everything. Delegation is like asking a friend to handle a piece of your work, or when a team of people go to a meeting to speak for everyone.
👶 For kids: When you ask someone to do something for you, like when you ask your friend to water your plants while you're on vacation. It's also a group of people that speak for other people.
More Examples
The United Nations sent a delegation to observe the peace talks.
Effective delegation empowers employees and boosts morale.
How It's Used
"The delegation from France presented their proposals."
"The manager's delegation of tasks improved productivity."
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
Idioms & expressions
delegate authority
To give someone the power to make decisions or take action on your behalf.
"The CEO delegated authority to the regional managers to handle customer complaints."
member of a delegation
Someone who is part of a group of people who represent other people or groups.
"She was a key member of the delegation to the peace talks."
From Latin *delegatio*, from *delegare* 'to send on a mission, entrust'.
The term gained prominence in the 17th and 18th centuries, initially in the context of assigning legal powers, and expanded later to include broader managerial practices.
Memory tip
Think of a 'gate' - you give the gate keys (responsibility) to someone else, or a group of people representing a larger group passing through a 'gate'.
Word Origin
"to entrust, send on a mission"