sur·ro·gate
ˈsər-ə-gət 
ˈsə-rə-,
-ˌgāt
often attributive
1
a
: one appointed to act in place of another : deputy
b
: a local judicial officer in some states (such as New York) who has jurisdiction over the probate of wills, the settlement of estates, and the appointment and supervision of guardians
2
3
: one that serves as a substitute
sur·ro·gate
ˈsər-ə-ˌgāt
ˈsə-rə-
surrogated; surrogating
: to put in the place of another:
a
: to appoint as successor, deputy, or substitute for oneself
b
Examples of surrogate in a Sentence
Noun
He could not attend the meeting, so he sent his surrogate.
The governor and her surrogates asked the public to support the change.
They had their baby through a surrogate.
Recent Examples on the Web
Evan Simko-Bednarski, New York Daily News, 1 Jan. 2026
Wyatt Morgan Maisani-Cooper, 5 Cooper welcomed his first child, Wyatt Morgan Maisani-Cooper, via surrogate on April 27, 2020.
—Katie Mannion, PEOPLE, 1 Jan. 2026
As for other celebrity baby news this year, that list includes Rihanna and A$AP Rocky, whose daughter Rocki arrived in September, and Lily Collins and Charlie McDowell, who welcomed their daughter Tove in January via surrogate.
—Emma Banks, InStyle, 31 Dec. 2025
Cooper and his ex Benjamin Maisani share two kids, Wyatt and Sebastian, while Cohen is father to Benjamin and Lucy, via surrogate.
—Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 31 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for surrogate
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Noun
State Attorney General Letitila James, a key campaign surrogate for Mamdani, administered the oath of office, as Mamdani had his hand planted on a Qur’an from the 19th century.
—Evan Simko-Bednarski, New York Daily News, 1 Jan. 2026
Wyatt Morgan Maisani-Cooper, 5 Cooper welcomed his first child, Wyatt Morgan Maisani-Cooper, via surrogate on April 27, 2020.
—Katie Mannion, PEOPLE, 1 Jan. 2026
As for other celebrity baby news this year, that list includes Rihanna and A$AP Rocky, whose daughter Rocki arrived in September, and Lily Collins and Charlie McDowell, who welcomed their daughter Tove in January via surrogate.
—Emma Banks, InStyle, 31 Dec. 2025
Cooper and his ex Benjamin Maisani share two kids, Wyatt and Sebastian, while Cohen is father to Benjamin and Lucy, via surrogate.
—Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 31 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for surrogate
Cite this Entry
“Surrogate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/surrogate. Accessed 3 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
surrogate
noun
sur·ro·gate
-gət, -ˌgāt
: one that serves as a substitute: as
a
: a representation of a person substituted through symbolizing (as in a dream) for conscious recognition of the person
b
: a drug substituted for another drug
c
Legal Definition
surrogate
noun
sur·ro·gate
ˈsər-ə-gət
1
: one acting in the place of another
especially
: one standing in loco parentis to a child
2
often capitalized
: the judge or judicial officer of a Surrogate's Court or Surrogate's office
surrogate
adjective
Etymology
Noun
Latin surrogatus, past participle of surrogare, subrogare to substitute, from sub- in place of, under + rogare to ask
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