From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishdeputationdep‧u‧ta‧tion /ˌdepjəˈteɪʃən/ noun [countable] formal REPRESENTa small group of people who are sent to talk to someone in authority, as representatives of a larger group
Examples from the Corpus
deputation• In the morning the minister received a deputation from the National Union of Farmers protesting about the government's plans to cut agricultural subsidies.• The council also passed a further motion to send a deputation to the Southern Board to express their concern.• It is said that a deputation of quarrymen came to see him with a view to getting a trade union recognised.• A deputation of church leaders has met with the government to discuss the teaching of religion in schools.• A deputation of Confederates had come to demand that he and his men evacuate the fort without further delay.• A deputation of dark-suited, middle-aged men appeared at the hotel entrance, smiling like grannies at a railway station.• Gone are the days of deputation.• Then, with one short hostile look at the deputation, Lee resumed his chair. 