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How to Say "delegated" in Spanish

English → Spanish

comisionado

koh-mee-syo-NAH-dohkomisjoˈnaðo

adjectiveB1formal
Use 'comisionado' when authority has been officially assigned or granted, often for a specific task or project, implying a formal mandate.
A focused person wearing a simple uniform is being handed a large, sealed scroll by a leader, symbolizing the assignment of a task.

Examples

El estudio fue comisionado por el ministerio de salud.

The study was commissioned by the ministry of health.

Estamos comisionados para encontrar una solución.

We are commissioned (or delegated) to find a solution.

Agreement is Key

When used as an adjective, it must agree in number and gender with the noun it describes: 'La tarea comisionada' (the feminine task) vs. 'Los equipos comisionados' (the plural masculine teams).

Used with 'Ser' or 'Estar'

You will often see it used with 'ser' (to form the passive voice, like 'was commissioned') or 'estar' (to describe the state of being commissioned, like 'is commissioned').

Forgetting Agreement

Mistake: “La misión fue comisionado.”

Correction: La misión fue comisionada. (Since 'misión' is feminine, the ending must be '-ada'.)

delegado

deh-leh-GAH-dohdeleˈɣaðo

adjectiveB2formal
Choose 'delegado' when power or authority is transferred from a higher entity to a subordinate, indicating a formal handover of responsibility.
A person in a robe handing a glowing golden key to another person.

Examples

El director tiene un poder delegado por la junta.

The director has a power delegated by the board.

Este es un servicio delegado a una empresa externa.

This is a service assigned to an external company.

Ejercía sus funciones mediante un cargo delegado.

He exercised his functions through a delegated position.

The '-ed' connection

As an adjective, this word works like English words ending in '-ed'. It describes something that has received the action of being delegated.

Matching the noun

Mistake: “Las funciones delegado.”

Correction: Las funciones delegadas. Remember that when this word describes a noun, it must match in gender and number (delegado, delegada, delegados, delegadas).

vicario

bee-KAH-ryohbiˈkaɾjo

adjectiveC1formal
Use 'vicario' when referring to authority or experience that is not directly held but is experienced or achieved through another person, often in a psychological or figurative sense.
A child watching an astronaut on a television screen with a look of awe and excitement.

Examples

Muchos padres buscan un éxito vicario a través de sus hijos.

Many parents seek vicarious success through their children.

El poder del regente es puramente vicario.

The regent's power is purely delegated (acting for another).

Sentí un placer vicario al verla ganar el premio.

I felt a vicarious pleasure seeing her win the prize.

Gender Matching

Since this is an adjective, it must match the gender of the thing it describes: 'un poder vicario' (masculine) but 'una experiencia vicaria' (feminine).

Word Order

In Spanish, this word almost always comes after the noun it describes to sound natural.

Confusing with 'Vicar'

Mistake: “Using 'el vicario' when you mean 'vicarious experience'.”

Correction: Use 'vicario' as an adjective after the noun for experiences, and as a noun for the person (the priest).

Delegado vs. Comisionado

Learners often confuse 'delegado' and 'comisionado'. 'Delegado' implies power passed down from a superior, while 'comisionado' suggests authority granted for a specific task or study, often by an official body.

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