special term: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Formal to Neutral
Quick answer
What does “special term” mean?
To entrust a task or responsibility to another person.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To entrust a task or responsibility to another person.
A person sent to represent others, especially in a conference or meeting.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is largely identical. In very formal business contexts, the noun might be slightly more common in the UK. The verb form is equally frequent in both varieties.
Connotations
Generally neutral or positive, associated with effective management and teamwork.
Frequency
High frequency in business, management, and political contexts. Moderate in everyday use.
Grammar
How to Use “special term” in a Sentence
delegate something to somebodydelegate somebody to do somethingVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “special term” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- She decided to delegate the budget planning to her deputy.
- You need to delegate more and stop trying to do everything yourself.
American English
- He delegated the task to a junior associate.
- A good supervisor knows how to delegate authority effectively.
adverb
British English
- The work was delegated appropriately.
- He acted delegately, distributing the workload.
American English
- The tasks were delegated wisely across the team.
- She managed the project delegately, not autocratically.
adjective
British English
- The delegate vote was crucial.
- She had delegate status at the union congress.
American English
- The delegate count is still unclear.
- He attended in a delegate capacity.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Crucial for management theory and practice. 'Managers must learn to delegate effectively to empower their teams.'
Academic
Used in political science, management studies, and organisational theory.
Everyday
'I delegated the food shopping to my flatmate.'
Technical
In computing, can refer to passing control or data to another object or function.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “special term”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “special term”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “special term”
- Using the noun pronunciation for the verb (or vice versa). Incorrect patterns: 'He delegated me the job' (correct: 'He delegated the job to me').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Delegate' implies entrusting with a degree of authority or decision-making power. 'Assign' is more general, meaning to give a task or piece of work, without necessarily implying the transfer of authority.
Typically no. The verb 'delegate' requires a human agent to do the delegating and usually a human recipient. We delegate tasks/responsibilities *to* people.
Yes. Noun: DE-li-gate (stress on first syllable). Verb: DE-li-GATE (stress often shifts slightly towards the end, especially in the American pronunciation).
'To centralize' (at an organisational level) or 'to micromanage'/'to retain control' (at a personal management level).
To entrust a task or responsibility to another person.
Special term is usually formal to neutral in register.
Special term: in British English it is pronounced /ˈdɛl.ɪ.ɡət/ (noun), /ˈdɛl.ɪ.ɡeɪt/ (verb), and in American English it is pronounced /ˈdɛl.ə.ɡət/ (noun), /ˈdɛl.ə.ɡeɪt/ (verb). Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Delegate or die (business aphorism)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a LEGATE (a diplomatic representative) who is sent to DELEGATE tasks.
Conceptual Metaphor
AUTHORITY IS AN OBJECT THAT CAN BE TRANSFERRED OR HANDED DOWN.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary connotation of effective delegation in a business context?