What does delegator mean?
A delegator is a person who delegates — that is, who entrusts tasks, duties, authority, or decision-making power to other people rather than performing them personally. The term belongs chiefly to the vocabulary of management and organisational life: a team leader, executive, or project manager described as an effective delegator is one who matches assignments to people's strengths, grants genuine autonomy, and resists the urge to control every detail. Delegation is widely regarded as a core leadership skill, so 'good delegator' carries a positive connotation, while phrases like 'a poor delegator' suggest micromanagement, mistrust of colleagues, or an inability to let go. The word derives from the Latin delegare, meaning to send away or assign, formed from de- ('away') plus legare ('to send with a commission'). Though relatively rare compared with its relatives 'delegate' and 'delegation', it fills a precise need in describing the person on the giving side of that exchange.
nounA person who delegates tasks, authority, or responsibility to others; someone who assigns work or power rather than carrying it out personally.
- A person who delegates tasks, authority, or responsibility to others.
"A skilled delegator knows which tasks to hand off and which to keep."
"As a manager, she proved herself an excellent delegator, empowering her team to take ownership of projects."
"The committee chair was a reluctant delegator, insisting on reviewing every detail himself."
Standard regular plural; used when referring to multiple people who delegate.
"Good delegators multiply their impact through the efforts of others."
Great leaders aren't the ones doing the most work — they're the best delegators, and the word itself comes from Latin legare, 'to send with a commission.'
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of delegator
Delegator comes from the Latin verb delegare, meaning 'to send away' or 'to assign', formed from the prefix de- ('away, off') and legare ('to send with a commission, to entrust'). The same Latin root produced English 'delegate' (both noun and verb), 'delegation', and 'delegacy', as well as 'legate' for an official representative, notably a papal legate. The noun 'delegator' was formed in English by adding the agentive suffix '-or' to the verb 'delegate', denoting the person who performs the action.
Related word forms
How delegator is actually used
The word is neutral in register but often appears in discussions of management and leadership, where being a good delegator is generally viewed positively and a poor one negatively. It is far less common than the verb 'delegate' or the noun 'delegation'.
Easily confused with delegator
A delegate is the person who receives delegated authority or is chosen to represent others, whereas a delegator is the one who hands over the task or authority.