delegation

noun

ˌde-li-ˈgā-shən How to pronounce delegation (audio)
Definition of delegationnext
1
as in contingent
a body of persons chosen as representatives of a larger group a delegation from the local scout troop is being sent to the national jamboree

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in mandate
the granting of power to perform various acts or duties the delegation by the president to the secretary of state of complete control of the nation's foreign policy

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of delegation As coach and consultant Deborah Grayson Riegel observes on the Harvard Business Review podcast, effective delegation is associated with greater productivity. — Carol Geffner, Forbes.com, 29 Sep. 2026 Dedicated buyer delegations will be designed to foster new connections and business opportunities in these markets. — Advertorial, Footwear News, 29 Sep. 2026 Israel also ousted the Dutch delegation from the International Gaza Support Center last month. — Arkansas Online, 28 Sep. 2026 Large sections of chairs in the hall were empty as delegations filed out in protest of Iranian aggression. — Robin Wright, New Yorker, 26 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for delegation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for delegation
  1. contingent
  2. mandate
  3. accreditation
  4. authorization
Noun
  • Disney’s contingent included Jon Wax, executive vp of international original television; executive vp Carol Choi, who oversees the studio’s Asian originals; and Kim Soyoun, managing director of the Walt Disney Company Korea.
    — Mathew Scott, HollywoodReporter, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Whether artificial noise was used at Allegiant Stadium has not been determined, but there was another strong contingent of Chiefs supporters at the game.
    — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of contingent
Noun
  • Twenty-three states have no rating from the big agencies at all, which locks them out of mandates that require one.
    — Tiisetso Motsoeneng, semafor.com, 7 Oct. 2026
  • The decision, announced last week without fanfare, offered no details beyond that broad mandate.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of mandate
Noun
  • Its accreditation is tied to a single entity rather than individual colleges.
    — Dr. Matthew Warshauer, Hartford Courant, 4 Oct. 2026
  • And in the full sentence that is a school, curricular interruptions are security threats to the accreditation evaluation that protects the bottom line.
    — Sophie Landres, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of accreditation
Noun
  • Human authorization, autonomous execution Harmattan AI describes IRIFI as autonomous rather than fully independent.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Florida has separately crafted a Canadian prescription drug importation program with authorization from the federal government, but that initiative has stalled.
    — Fatima Hussein, Chicago Tribune, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of authorization

Browse Nearby Words

delegating
delegation
delegations
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Delegation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/delegation. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 9

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
a cup of tea and a golf ball on tee side by side
Quiz: Sounds Like... Choose the word that sounds like it fits the clue...
See All