delegate

A person chosen to speak or act for others, especially at a meeting or conference.

• Each school sent a delegate.
• The delegates voted on the proposal.
• She attended the conference as a union delegate.

How to use it: a delegate to something (He was elected as a delegate to the annual conference.); a delegate from somewhere (We welcomed a delegate from each region.)

Similar words: representative, deputy

Common phrases: conference delegate, union delegate, delegate from somewhere

A person who represents a place in a lawmaking body but cannot vote there.

• The delegate cannot vote in the chamber.
• Each territory sends a delegate to Congress.
• The delegates spoke during the committee meeting.

How to use it: delegate to something (She became a delegate to Congress.)

Similar words: nonvoting representative

Common phrases: nonvoting delegate, territorial delegate, delegate to congress

To give a task or some of your authority to someone who works under you.

• You need to delegate some tasks.
• She delegated responsibility for training to me.
• Can you delegate more work to your team?

How to use it: delegate something to someone (The manager delegated the task to her assistant.)

Similar words: assign, entrust

Common phrases: delegate a task, delegate authority, delegate to someone