noun

delegation

del-ih-GAY-shun/ˌdelɪˈɡeɪʃn/

The entrusting of representative authority to others.

The community's delegation of authority enables three representatives to speak for the group.

Three selected community representatives stand together facing a meeting table while a larger group behind sends them off with supportive gestures.

Etymology

deLatinaway, from

+legLatinto send with a commission

+ationLatinaction or process

The pieces describe sending someone away with a commission to act for others. The noun shifted from the act of delegating to the people sent, giving the sense of a representative group.

In context

The Scottish Parliament26:57

I participated in a delegation from the cross-party group on science and technology when we visited the Large Hadron Collider at CERN

Debate: Safeguarding Scotland's Reputation for Scientific Excellence from Brexit - 7 November 2018

More examples

Effective delegation gives employees the authority they need to make decisions.
The board approves the delegation of hiring authority to department heads.
Delegation does not free a manager from accountability.

Forms

delegation · delegations

delegate verb — To entrust authority or responsibility to another.

Similar words

authorization: Authorization grants permission; delegation entrusts another person with authority.
assignment: Assignment allocates work but does not necessarily transfer authority.