delegation
B2Formal to Neutral
Definition
Meaning
A group of people chosen or authorized to represent a larger group or organization.
The act or process of giving authority, responsibility, or a task to someone else, particularly a subordinate.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word has two primary senses: 1) a group acting as representatives (the more common usage), and 2) the act of delegating tasks or authority. The context usually makes the intended meaning clear.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Both senses are equally common in both varieties.
Connotations
Formal and official, associated with diplomacy, business, and organized groups.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in professional and political contexts in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
delegation of [authority/power/tasks]delegation from [country/organization]delegation to [event/place]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None specific. Related: 'pass the buck' (informal, for the act of delegation).”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Effective delegation of responsibilities is key to management.
Academic
The study examined power delegation in federal systems.
Everyday
A delegation from the parents' association met the headteacher.
Technical
In computing, delegation is an object-oriented design pattern.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The manager will delegate the budgetary planning to her deputy.
- It's unwise to delegate such a sensitive matter.
American English
- She needs to delegate more tasks to her team.
- The CEO delegated authority to the regional directors.
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A (The adjective is 'delegated', as in 'delegated authority').
American English
- N/A (The adjective is 'delegated', as in 'delegated powers').
Examples
By CEFR Level
- A small delegation visited our school today.
- The company sent a trade delegation to China.
- The success of the project depended on the clear delegation of roles.
- The minister faced criticism for her delegation of the decision-making process to unelected officials.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a LEGATE (a representative) leading a DELEGATION.
Conceptual Metaphor
REPRESENTATION IS DELEGATION (a group stands for/acts for another).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid confusing with 'делегация' (which is correct for the 'group' sense) when trying to express the 'act of delegating' (which is 'делегирование' or 'перепоручение').
- The English word covers both concepts.
Common Mistakes
- Confusing 'delegation' (noun) with 'delegate' (verb/noun).
- Using it as a verb (incorrect: 'I will delegation this task').
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'delegation' LEAST likely to be used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Delegate' is primarily a verb (to assign a task) or a noun for an individual representative. 'Delegation' is a noun meaning either the group of representatives or the process of assigning tasks.
No, 'delegation' is only a noun. The verb form is 'to delegate'.
It is neutral-to-formal. It is standard in professional, political, and academic contexts. In very casual settings, simpler words like 'group' or 'team' might be used instead for the 'people' sense.
Pronouncing it with a hard 'g' (as in 'get') instead of a soft 'g' (as in 'general'). The correct pronunciation has a soft 'g': /ˌdel.ɪˈɡeɪ.ʃən/.
Collections
Part of a collection
Leadership and Management
B2 · 46 words · Language for leading teams and managing organizations.
Advanced Business English
C1 · 43 words · Sophisticated language for business and finance.
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