Delegate and delegate are two words that are spelled identically but are pronounced differently and have different meanings, which makes them heteronyms. We will examine the definitions of the words delegate and delegate, where these words came from, and a few examples of their use in sentences.
Delegate (DELL uh gut) is a noun that means a person who is acting for another at a conference, convention, or in an elected body; a committee member. The word delegate is derived from the Latin delegare, which means make someone a representative.
Delegate (DELL uh gate) is a verb that means to task someone with a responsibility or to make someone your representative. The verb delegate is also derived from the Latin word delegare. Related words are delgates, delegated, delegating, delegation.
Examples
Indian-American entrepreneur from Silicon Valley Ajay Jain Bhutoria has been elected as a delegate for Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden for the party’s national convention in August. (The Hindustan Times)
Though Senator Bernie Sanders has officially suspended his presidential campaign, the Vermont senator has made clear that he intends to continue amassing delegates to influence the Democratic platform and push the party further left. (Vanity Fair)
This goes without saying but the most important factor in your ability to run and scale many ventures at once is your ability to build a team and delegate work. (Forbes Magazine)
“The president is very supportive of the safe reopening of the economy, which he’s delegated it to the states, and that was the right decision,” said the Congresswoman during a visit to a Belmonte Builders construction site in Wilton on May 26. (Saratoga Today Newspaper)