The person or persons deputed or commissioned by another person, party, or public body to act in his or its behalf; delegation; as, the general sent a deputation to the enemy to propose a truce.
A group of people deputed to speak on behalf of a larger group. The diggers sent a deputation to Hotham in Melbourne. Deputations were normally only authorised to speak, to make a point; they were not normally authorised to negotiate.
Commonly refers to the prayer and financial support rallying that career and short-term missionaries do before leaving for the field and during furloughs.