agent

[ey-juhnt]

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.

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

/ 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

agent

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

2. Compare reagent

Other Word Forms

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of agent¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of agent¹

C15: from Latin agent-, noun use of the present participle of agere to do

Example Sentences

Immigration agents have been increasingly involved in aggressive confrontations with suspects and protesters.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Sources close to the chancellor said that her letting agent had told her it would advise her if a selective licence was needed and did not do so.

Read more on BBC

Last year, the south London council fined a letting agent and a landlord £1,128 and £2,256 for renting out a property without acquiring the correct licence.

Read more on BBC

In this work, nanoparticles operate as therapeutic agents in their own right.

Read more on Science Daily

The immigration agent barely glanced at Negrete’s passport before waving him through.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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