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

• subagency
  noun
• underagency
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• 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

“Against impossible odds, hope endures,” the agency said in a social media post.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 29, 2026

More significant, the five Justices went further and held that the Fed has unique status as an independent agency in the government owing to its role in monetary policy.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 29, 2026

This brings us to the second type of agency that is now at risk: Cabinet agencies.

From Slate • Jun. 29, 2026

The UN migration agency said that based on population and damage data, up to 6.76 million people could be affected, and would require shelter, water, sanitation, healthcare and essential relief items.

From Barron's • Jun. 29, 2026

They were on a mission for the National Security Agency—the hush-hush government intelligence agency where William had worked before his retirement, and which he still sometimes served.

From "The Woman All Spies Fear" by Amy Butler Greenfield

Related Words

• bureau
• company
• department
• firm
• office