agent

American  

[ey-juhnt] / ˈeɪ dʒənt /

noun

1. a person or business authorized to act on another's behalf.

   Our agent in Hong Kong will ship the merchandise.

   A best-selling author needs a good agent.

   Synonyms:

   deputy, representative

2. a person or thing that acts or has the power to act.

3. a natural force or object producing or used for obtaining specific results.

   Many insects are agents of fertilization.

   Synonyms:

   means

4. an active cause; an efficient cause.

5. a person who works for or manages an agency.

6. a person who acts in an official capacity for a government or private agency as a guard, detective, or spy.

   an FBI agent;

   the secret agents of a foreign power.

7. a person responsible for a particular action.

   Who was the agent of this deed?

8. Grammar. a form or construction, usually a noun or noun phrase, denoting an animate being that performs or causes the action expressed by the verb, as the police in The car was found by the police.

9. Indian agent.

10. a representative of a business firm, especially a traveling salesperson; canvasser; solicitor.

11. Chemistry. a substance that causes a reaction.

12. Pharmacology. a drug or chemical capable of eliciting a biological response.

13. Pathology. any microorganism capable of causing disease.

14. British. a campaign manager; an election agent.

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adjective

1. acting; exerting power (patient ).

verb (used with object)

1. to represent (a person or thing) as an agent; act as an agent for: Who agented that deal?

   to agent a manuscript;

   Who agented that deal?

agent British  

/ ˈeɪdʒənt, eɪˈdʒɛnʃəl /

noun

1. a person who acts on behalf of another person, group, business, government, etc; representative

2. a person or thing that acts or has the power to act

3. a phenomenon, substance, or organism that exerts some force or effect

   a chemical agent

4. the means by which something occurs or is achieved; instrument

   wind is an agent of plant pollination

5. a person representing a business concern, esp a travelling salesman

6. short for estate agent

7. short for secret agent

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agent Scientific  

/ ā′jənt /

1. A substance that can bring about a chemical reaction or a biological effect.

2. Compare reagent

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Other Word Forms

• agential adjective
• counteragent noun
• interagent noun
• superagent noun
• underagent noun

Etymology

Origin of agent

First recorded in 1570–80; from Latin agent-, stem of agēns “doing,” present participle of agere “to do, drive”

Example Sentences

Thursday and a second demand with a Monday deadline, said Heith Janke, the special agent in charge of the FBI’s Phoenix division.

From Los Angeles Times

But she said the city needs a change agent to address its problems.

From Los Angeles Times

There has been anger in Italy over the presence of some agents from the US immigration enforcement agency ICE as part of security for the American delegation.

From Barron's

Hundreds protested in Milan on Friday against Vance's visit and the presence of some agents from the US immigration enforcement agency ICE who are in Italy to help protect the American delegation.

From Barron's

She said a number of workers have been detained by federal agents since last year.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• assistant
• broker
• commissioner
• deputy
• handler
• lawyer
• minister
• officer
• operative
• operator
• promoter
• representative
• worker