Word

delegation

noun C1

/dɛlɪˈɡeɪʃən/

Meanings

noun

the act of giving someone authority and responsibility to carry out a task or make decisions

noun

a group of people chosen to represent others at a meeting or event

Definition

Delegation is the act of giving someone else the authority and responsibility to do a task on your behalf.

Delegation means assigning tasks or decision-making power to another person while still remaining accountable for the overall outcome. It is often used in workplaces when a manager entrusts work to team members. Effective delegation includes clear expectations, the right level of authority, and appropriate follow-up.

Examples

As her workload grew, Maria improved delegation so the team could meet the deadline without burnout.
I realized my delegation was ineffective because I assigned tasks but didn’t provide the authority to make key decisions.
The director insisted on delegation with clear boundaries, so everyone understood who owned each deliverable.
Their delegation arrived early for the summit and met with local organizers to confirm the schedule.

Common mistake

Learners often confuse delegation (giving tasks/authority) with deligation, which is a spelling error.