agency

[ey-juhn-see]

noun

plural

agencies 

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

agency

/ 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

Other Word Forms

• subagency noun
• underagency noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of agency¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of agency¹

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

Example Sentences

Department of Homeland Security, which supervises the agency, deserves extra credit for exposing this travesty.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

If that effort fails, the agency can file lawsuits seeking recoveries and penalties.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

"Even in the grave, he still remains our hero," one mourner told the AFP news agency.

Read more on BBC

Gaza's civil defence agency said a series of Israeli air strikes across the territory killed at least 33 people on Sunday, updating an earlier toll of 21.

Read more on Barron's

Mainstream journalists and political figures typically describe the FBI as the federal government’s law enforcement agency, but most of them, perhaps all of them, know better.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• bureau 
• company 
• department 
• firm 
• office