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Central Intelligence Agency

American  

noun

  1. CIA.


Central Intelligence Agency British  

noun

  1. See CIA

"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

Central Intelligence Agency Cultural  
  1. An agency of the United States government, responsible for coordinating information-gathering activities outside the United States in the interest of national security. The CIA works with the Department of State and a variety of civilian and military organizations to protect American interests abroad and recommend directions for American foreign policy.


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The operations of the CIA are directed by the National Security Council.

The extreme secrecy of many of the CIA's operations has enhanced its reputation as an organization of espionage and intrigue.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

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David Rush, 49, who held a top secret security clearance at the Central Intelligence Agency, is to be sentenced on January 28 and faces a maximum of 20 years in prison, the Justice Department said.

From Barron's ● Oct. 6, 2026

Some of the evaluations have included the National Security Agency and the Central Intelligence Agency, the people said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 17, 2026

The visit comes just over a week after Central Intelligence Agency chief John Ratcliffe spent several hours in Moscow for talks with his Russian counterpart.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 6, 2026

Curlee, who has since resigned from the Central Intelligence Agency after 20 years of service, recently shared her experience in a first-person essay published by The Atlantic magazine.

From Barron's ● Aug. 26, 2026

The Central Intelligence Agency had assured Eisenhower of this again and again.

From "Fallout: Spies, Superbombs, and the Ultimate Cold War Showdown" by Steve Sheinkin

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