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

Former CNN anchor Don Lemon has been arrested by federal agents in Los Angeles, according to an attorney statement posted on Lemon’s social media account Friday morning.

From Los Angeles Times

Grisham’s books have sold nearly 500 million copies globally, his agent says.

From The Wall Street Journal

He also reported colleagues to the police over claims of overspending on election expenses, which saw two Reform councillors and their agent go to the High Court to successfully clear their names.

From BBC

Lemon was taken into custody by federal agents on Thursday night while in Los Angeles covering the Grammy Awards, according to a statement from his lawyer Abbe Lowell.

From BBC

Protesters that day shouted “ICE out!” and chants calling for justice for Renee Good, the 37-year-old woman who was fatally shot by an ICE agent this month in Minneapolis.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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