Delegate vs Spokesman

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Delegate

Top 2,000 (common) C1 noun

Spokesman

Formal Beyond 10,000 (less common) B2 noun

Most formal: Spokesman Most common: Delegate

	Delegate	Spokesman
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 /["/ˈdelɪɡət/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/ˈdelɪɡət/"]/	🇬🇧 /["/ˈspəʊksmən/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/ˈspəʊksmən/"]/
Meaning	To give someone else the responsibility to do a task.	A person who speaks on behalf of others.
Example	Congress delegates rejected the proposals.	a police spokesman
Register	Neutral	Formal
How common	Top 2,000 (common)	Beyond 10,000 (less common)
CEFR level	C1	B2
Part of speech	noun	noun
Collocations	conference, congress, convention, choose, elect, select, attend (something), approve, vote (on something), delegate from, delegate to	official spokesman, spokesman for a company, spokesman at a conference, spokesman statement, government spokesman
Antonyms	retain, keep, control	opponent, adversary
Common mistakes	Using 'delegate' as a noun instead of a verb., Confusing 'delegate' with 'delegate' as a person., Omitting the 'to' before the person's name.	Confused with 'spokesperson', which is gender-neutral., Used inappropriately in informal settings., Misused by assuming it refers to a specific person's opinion rather than a group's.
Usage notes	Often used in professional settings to describe assigning tasks to team members. Be careful not to over-delegate, as this can lead to a lack of accountability.	Commonly used in formal contexts such as politics or organizations. Avoid in casual conversations unless discussing a specific topic related to representation.

Frequently asked questions: Delegate vs Spokesman

What's the difference between Delegate and Spokesman?

Delegate: To give someone else the responsibility to do a task. Spokesman: A person who speaks on behalf of others.

Which is more formal: Delegate and Spokesman?

Spokesman is the most formal of these.

Which is more common: Delegate and Spokesman?

Delegate is the most common in everyday English.

Which is more advanced: Delegate and Spokesman?

Delegate is the highest level, at C1, on the CEFR scale.

Are Delegate and Spokesman the same CEFR level?

Delegate: C1, Spokesman: B2 on the CEFR scale.

What part of speech are Delegate and Spokesman?

Delegate: noun, Spokesman: noun.

Can you show an example of each?

Delegate: Congress delegates rejected the proposals. Spokesman: a police spokesman

Can I use Delegate and Spokesman interchangeably?

Not always. Delegate and Spokesman are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.