Relegate vs delegate

What does relegate mean?

Relegate is when someone is assigned a position that is lower than their current position. Mildred, an assistant manager, can’t be relegated to store manager, but if Mildred was a store manager, she could be relegated to assistant manager because it’s a lower position.

Relegate has a certain stigma associated with it, implying the person relegated has done something wrong.

For example:

• After the sales disaster, store manager Mildred was relegated to assistant manager.

What does delegate mean?

Delegate, on the other hand, means to assign responsibility or authority that currently sits with you. Another meaning of delegate is to appoint someone as a representative.

For example:

• The boss delegated tasks to Mildred, much to Mildred’s anger. In retaliation, Mildred delegated all of her tasks back to our protagonist and went home.

What’s the difference between relegate and delegate?

Relegate and delegate can be confusing because they have the similar function of giving someone else a task or role. However, there is an important nuance between both words: delegate means to assign a task that you currently have authority or responsibility for while relegating is giving someone a task or position that is lower than their current ranking.