agency

American  

[ey-juhn-see] / ˈeɪ dʒən si /

noun

agencies plural

1. an organization, company, or bureau that provides a particular service.

   We are a nonprofit agency for people experiencing food insecurity.

2. a company having a franchise to represent another.

   Perhaps we should be looking for a new advertising agency.

3. a governmental bureau or administrative division, or an office that represents it.

   My internship at the FDA led to job opportunities with other federal agencies.

4. the place of business of an agent.

   If you stop by the agency tomorrow, we can go over the details of the land sale.

5. Indian agency.

6. the duty or function of an agent.

7. the relationship between a principal and an agent.

   Investment firms must incentivize proper agency so that fund managers prioritize the investor’s interests over their own.

8. the state of being in action or of exerting power; operation.

   the agency of divine Providence.

9. the capacity to act or exert power.

   We may have our free agency, but we are responsible for our choices.

10. a means of exerting power or influence; instrumentality.

    nominated by the agency of friends.

    Synonyms:

    intercession

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agency British  

/ ˈeɪdʒənsɪ /

noun

1. a business or other organization providing a specific service

   an employment agency

2. the place where an agent conducts business

3. the business, duties, or functions of an agent

4. action, power, or operation

   the agency of fate

5. intercession or mediation

6. one of the administrative organizations of a government

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• underagency
  noun
• subagency
  noun

Inflected Forms

noun

• agencies
  plural

Etymology

Origin of agency

First recorded in 1650–60; from Medieval Latin agentia “ability,” from Latin ag(ere) “to do, drive” + -entia -ency

Explanation

An agency usually provides a service, like an aid organization or a government bureau. If you're looking for a job, an employment agency might be able to help. The Latin word agere means "to do or manage," and it's a fitting ancestor for agency, a word that means an institution that manages or specializes in something. As a secret agent, you might work for the CIA, or Central Intelligence Agency. I hope you look good in black. The noun agency also refers to the power or ability to do something, as in the William McKinley quote, "War should never be entered upon until every agency of peace has failed.”

Example Sentences

In March, the International Energy Agency announced the release of 400 million barrels of oil from the strategic petroleum reserves of member countries.

From Salon • Jun. 10, 2026

Luca Parmitano, of the Italian Space Agency, will be the pilot of Artemis III. He's spent more than 300 days in space.

From BBC • Jun. 9, 2026

The European Chemicals Agency classifies the chemical as harmful to aquatic life.

From Science Daily • Jun. 9, 2026

The leaders agreed to put the two nations' friendly relations "on a more solid basis", North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency said.

From Barron's • Jun. 9, 2026

The Agency was still smaller than its Russian counterpart, and its agents had to train hard to learn the techniques of spycraft—which Soviet operatives had been mastering for decades.

From "Spies: The Secret Showdown Between America and Russia" by Marc Favreau

Related Words

• bureau
• company
• department
• firm
• office