agency

[ ey-juhn-see ]

/ ˈeɪ dʒən si /

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See synonyms for: agency / agencies on Thesaurus.com

noun, plural a·gen·cies.

an organization, company, or bureau that provides a particular service: a nonprofit agency for people experiencing food insecurity.

a company having a franchise to represent another: Perhaps we should be looking for a new advertising agency.

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.

the place of business of an agent: If you stop by the agency tomorrow, we can go over the details of the land sale.

Indian agency.

the duty or function of an agent.

the relationship between a principal and his or her agent: Investment firms must incentivize proper agency so that fund managers prioritize the investor’s interests over their own.

the state of being in action or of exerting power; operation: the agency of divine Providence.

the capacity to act or exert power: We may have our free agency, but we are responsible for our choices.

a means of exerting power or influence; instrumentality: nominated by the agency of friends.

OTHER WORDS FOR agency

10 intercession.

See synonyms for agency on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

SHALL WE PLAY A "SHALL" VS. "SHOULD" CHALLENGE?

Should you take this quiz on “shall” versus “should”? It should prove to be a quick challenge!

Question 1 of 6

Which form is used to state an obligation or duty someone has?

shall

should

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of agency

First recorded in 1650–60; from Medieval Latin agentia, equivalent to Latin ag- (root of agere “to do, act, manage”) + -entia noun suffix; see -ency

OTHER WORDS FROM agency

sub·a·gen·cy, noun, plural sub·a·gen·cies.un·der·a·gen·cy, noun, plural un·der·a·gen·cies.

Words nearby agency

agelong, agemate, Agen, Agena, Agenais, agency, agency shop, agenda, agender, agendum, agenesis

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use agency in a sentence

“Letting the most junior members set the agenda might be a good philosophy for a Montessori preschool, but it is no way to run a federal agency,” Barr said in a speech to an event hosted by conservative Hillsdale College.
William Barr’s eyebrow-raising ‘robber barons’ metaphor for the Trump era|Aaron Blake|September 17, 2020|Washington Post
Using NBCU’s program would also have the advantage of being able to dig deeper into NBCU’s contribution to an advertiser’s business results, according to agency executives.
NBCUniversal tests new measurement program to prove it can push product sales for advertisers|Tim Peterson|September 17, 2020|Digiday
Privacy and security were important considerations before committing to use the product, said Paul Davison, Vice Media Group vice president of agency development, for international in statement.
‘Re-architecting the entire process’: How Vice is preparing for life after the third-party cookie|Lara O'Reilly|September 17, 2020|Digiday
Although a longer term may help agencies recruit, it still would not provide the individual with the security of a permanent position, she said.
Nonpermanent federal workers could be hired for up to 10 years under Trump proposal|Eric Yoder|September 16, 2020|Washington Post

The upfront held to its traditional calendar-year model, and most of the money committed has gone to TV networks for ads that will air on linear TV, according to agency executives.
How the future of TV and streaming has – and hasn’t – been reshaped so far by 2020|Tim Peterson|September 16, 2020|Digiday
Something like fluoride, which is too small for normal filters, yanks away that feeling of agency.
Anti-Fluoriders Are The OG Anti-Vaxxers|Michael Schulson|July 27, 2016|DAILY BEAST
Wisner continues to feel angry toward the agency because she believes she was misled.
Judge: Rehoming Kids Is Trafficking|Tina Traster|December 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“Mostly people on a budget use it,” Franz Dobersberger, managing director of a Bangkok travel agency, told The Daily Beast.
The Presumed Crash of AirAsia Flight QZ8501 Is Nothing Like MH370|Lennox Samuels|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Larson, as usual, instills gravitas and agency in an otherwise underwritten character.
Brie Larson’s Hollywood Transformation|Marlow Stern|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Essentially, we are being left in a position where we are expected to just take agency promises at face value.
No, North Korea Didn’t Hack Sony|Marc Rogers|December 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Having thus enrolled himself as one of the Agency Indians, he had a claim on this the Agency doctor.
Ramona|Helen Hunt Jackson
Yet he succeeded in getting many to take the agency and these received orders and sent for the books.
The Homesteader|Oscar Micheaux
Indeed, in many cases a general agency requires the employment of many persons to execute the business.
Putnam's Handy Law Book for the Layman|Albert Sidney Bolles
In many cases an agency is created for an indefinite period, and in these either party can terminate it whenever he desires.
Putnam's Handy Law Book for the Layman|Albert Sidney Bolles
The death of either agent or principal terminates the agency except in cases of personal interest.
Putnam's Handy Law Book for the Layman|Albert Sidney Bolles

British Dictionary definitions for agency

agency

/ (ˈeɪdʒənsɪ) /

noun plural -cies

a business or other organization providing a specific servicean employment agency

the place where an agent conducts business

the business, duties, or functions of an agent

action, power, or operationthe agency of fate

intercession or mediation

one of the administrative organizations of a government

Word Origin for agency

C17: from Medieval Latin agentia, from Latin agere to do

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

agency

OTHER WORDS FOR agency

Origin of agency

OTHER WORDS FROM agency

Words nearby agency

Words related to agency

How to use agency in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for agency

Word Origin for agency