The difference between Substitute and Surrogate
When used as nouns, substitute means a replacement or stand-in for something that achieves a similar result or purpose, whereas surrogate means a substitute (usually of a person, position or role).
When used as verbs, substitute means to use in place of something else, with the same function, whereas surrogate means to replace or substitute something with something else.
Surrogate is also adjective with the meaning: of, concerning, relating to or acting as a substitute.
check bellow for the other definitions of Substitute and Surrogate
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Substitute as a verb (transitive):
To use in place of something else, with the same function.
Examples:
"I had no shallots so I substituted onion."
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Substitute as a verb (transitive):
In the phrase "substitute X for Y", to use X in place of Y. With increasing frequency used in the semantically opposite sense (see [http://www.oed.com/view/Entry/193079?isAdvanced=false&result=3&rskey=zYLG08&#eid20118763 the OED's notes]).
Examples:
"I had to substitute new parts for the old ones."
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Substitute as a verb (transitive):
In the phrase "substitute X with/by Y", to use Y in place of X; to replace X with Y
Examples:
"I had to substitute old parts with the new ones.'' (<small>This usage was formerly proscribed.</small>)"
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Substitute as a verb (transitive, sports):
To remove (a player) from the field of play and bring on another in his place.
Examples:
"He was playing poorly and was substituted after twenty minutes"
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Substitute as a verb (intransitive):
To serve as a replacement (for someone or something)
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Substitute as a noun:
A replacement or stand-in for something that achieves a similar result or purpose.
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Substitute as a noun (sports):
A player who is available to replace another if the need arises, and who may or may not actually do so.
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Substitute as a noun (historical):
One who enlists for military service in the place of a conscript.
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Surrogate as a noun:
A substitute (usually of a person, position or role).
Examples:
"A mixture of horseradish and mustard often serves as a surrogate for wasabi."
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Surrogate as a noun:
A person or animal that acts as a substitute for the social or pastoral role of another, such as a surrogate mother.
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Surrogate as a noun (chiefly, British):
A deputy for a bishop in granting licences for marriage.
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Surrogate as a noun (US, _, legal):
A judicial officer of limited jurisdiction, who administers matters of probate and interstate succession and, in some cases, adoptions.
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Surrogate as a noun (computing):
Any of a range of Unicode codepoints which are used in pairs in UTF-16 to represent characters beyond the Basic Multilingual Plane.
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Surrogate as an adjective:
Of, concerning, relating to or acting as a substitute.
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Surrogate as a verb (transitive):
To replace or substitute something with something else; appoint a successor.