delegation
del-uh-GAY-shuhn
/ˌdelɪˈɡeɪʃn/
A body of delegates or representatives; a group of people chosen to represent an organization or country.
Implies an official capacity; these people are not just traveling together, they are acting on behalf of a larger entity.
The story behind the word. From Latin 'de-' (away) and 'legare' (to send). It literally means 'sending away' someone with a specific mission. In sports, a country 'sends away' its best athletes to represent the nation.
Word relationships
- deputation: Deputation is specifically a group sent to deliver a message or request; delegation is more general.
- contingent: Contingent often refers to a group that is part of a larger gathering, like a military or athletic unit.
Commonly confused with
- delegate: A delegate is a single person; a delegation is the whole group.
Word family
- delegate (noun/verb): a representative / to entrust a task
Collocations
- official delegation
- national delegation
- head of delegation
- send a delegation
Example sentences
- "The American delegation was one of the largest to enter the stadium." Olympic opening ceremony.
- "A high-level delegation was sent to negotiate the hosting rights for the next tournament." Diplomatic context.
Memory hook
A 'delegation' is 'delegated' to represent their nation. Delegated to represent.
When not to use
Don't use for a casual group of tourists or fans.
Fun facts
- At the Olympics, the Greek delegation always enters the stadium first during the Opening Ceremony.
Related words
Explore more words
delegate, devolution, accountable, deputize, empower, devolve
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