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surrogare

to substitute

verb soor-roh-GAH-reh Rare
People & Society Law

Origin: Latin surrogare (to substitute, to elect in place of another)

Also means

to replace

Usage Note

Surrogare means to put something in place of another — surrogare un prodotto (to substitute a product), surrogare un genitore (to act as a surrogate parent). It is the root of surrogato (surrogate, substitute) and maternità surrogata (surrogacy). A regular -are verb; more formal than sostituire, which is the everyday word for 'to replace'.

Examples

"Il nuovo metodo surroga quello precedente."

Natural Translation

The new method substitutes the previous one.

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