délégué

Délégué is a French term referring to a person who is elected or appointed to act on behalf of a group or a body, or who has been entrusted with specific authority. The feminine form is déléguée. The word derives from déléguer, to entrust or assign responsibility to someone.

In a general sense, a délégué is someone who represents others, transmits information, and acts under a mandate given by a larger collective. The exact powers and scope of a délégué depend on the context, the statutes governing the body, and the terms of the delegation.

In the workplace, several specific roles are commonly understood. Délégué du personnel refers to an employee representative elected to liaise with management on workers’ concerns, conditions, and grievances. Délégué syndical is a trade union representative chosen to defend the interests of union members within a company and to participate in negotiations or discussions with management. Délégué de classe is a student representative elected to convey class issues to teachers and school administration. These roles are typically defined by applicable labor or educational regulations and may confer particular rights, time allowances, or protections.

Beyond employment and education, délégué can denote a person who represents a group in a broader delegation or a member of a delegation to a conference, meeting, or official ceremony. The term also appears in phrases such as délégation, indicating the act or body of delegation.

See also: délégation, déléguer, délégué du personnel, délégué syndical, délégué de classe.