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deputation

deputation

1 6.8
A group of people who represent others and speak for them
  • noun
  • /ˌdɛpjuˈteɪʃən/
  • UK
translation icon : delegación
  • Deputations will be heard one by one.
  • member of the deputation
  • Scottish suffrage deputation
  • deputation in July

Examples

  • Adrian was alone in the control room when the deputation arrived.

    Fiction book (2001)
  • When Gandhi came out of jail for the third time, the Indians held a meeting and decided to send a deputation to England to acquaint the British government with the real situation in South Africa.

    Blog text (29)
  • But what about the deputation from parliament.

  • Well, where is the deputation?

  • Hardware and my patients; I had to send Anna as our official deputation.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • The deputation sent on behalf of Lady Octavia...

  • The leader of the deputation was the man whom I had already identified as the naval type because he addressed another by their rank and title.

    Fiction book (1995)
  • He was a member of the deputation on church reform and participated in the negotiations with the Hussites.

    Academic text (2018)
  • In June 1720, the Faculty of Theology of Paris decided to send a deputation to offer its support to Cardinal de Noailles, the Archbishop of Paris, in his struggle to obtain an explanation of the Constitution Unigenitus.

    Academic text (1992)
  • A deputation of teachers presented their concerns about the new curriculum to the school board.

Synonyms

delegation
vsdeputation
  • Specialized
310 3.8

A group of people chosen to represent others at a meeting

is used for groups appointed for a particular purpose or to deliver a message
delegacy
vsdeputation
  • Archaic
8.1

A group of people chosen to represent a country or region at a meeting

is used for groups appointed for a particular purpose or to deliver a message

Surface Forms

deputation singular
deputations plural

Morphology

deputation = depute (semi-transparent) = depute + ion

Formed from 'depute' + '-ion', but the specific sense 'a group of representatives' (a body of deputies) is a result noun usage that learners may not infer directly.

Etymology

Deputation comes from the same root deput- as deputy, with the idea 'to assign' or 'to send'. So a deputation is a small group 'chosen' or 'sent' to represent other people.