Delegate versus Relegate: Understanding the Difference

Delegate versus Relegate: Understanding the Difference

Delegate versus Relegate

Delegate and relegate are two words that sound similar but have different meanings. Let’s explore the differences between them:

Delegate:

• History: The word “delegate” comes from the Latin word “delegare” which means to send as a representative.
• How to use: Delegate means to entrust a task or responsibility to someone else.

Examples:

1. I will delegate the project to my team members.
2. The manager delegates tasks to different departments.
3. She was delegated as the spokesperson for the event.
4. He decided to delegate the decision-making process to his assistant.
5. They will delegate the authority to make decisions on their behalf.

Relegate:

• History: The word “relegate” comes from the Latin word “relegare” which means to consign or banish.
• How to use: Relegate means to dismiss or downgrade to a lower position or rank.

Examples:

1. He was relegated to a lower position in the company.
2. The team was relegated to a less prestigious league.
3. She felt relegated to the sidelines during the project.
4. They decided to relegate the old equipment to storage.
5. The teacher relegated the disruptive student to the back of the classroom.

Trick to Remember the Difference:

A trick to remember the difference between the two words is to think of “delegate” as assigning a task while “relegate” is moving something to a lower position.

Summary:

Delegate involves entrusting tasks to others, while relegate involves demoting or moving something to a lower status. Remember, delegate for assigning tasks, and relegate for pushing down.