The word "surrogate" refers to a substitute or replacement for someone or something else. In a more specific context, it often describes a person who takes the place of another, particularly in situations like parenting, where a surrogate mother carries and gives birth to a child for another person or couple. The term can also apply to representatives or substitutes in various fields, such as legal matters or decision-making.
The word "surrogate" comes from the Latin "surrogatus," which is the past participle of "surrogare," meaning "to appoint as a substitute." This Latin term is derived from "sub-" meaning "from below" and "rogare," meaning "to ask."