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CIA

1 American  
Or C.I.A.

abbreviation

  1. Central Intelligence Agency: the U.S. federal agency that coordinates governmental intelligence activities outside the United States.


Cia. 2 American  

abbreviation

  1. Company.


CIA British  

abbreviation

  1. Central Intelligence Agency; a federal US bureau created in 1947 to coordinate and conduct espionage and intelligence activities

"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

Etymology

Origin of Cia.

From the Spanish word Compañía

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.

The operation brought together the CIA officers and state authorities in Chihuahua, and that collaboration was a source of consternation for Mexican federal officials.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 22, 2026

The CIA declined to comment or identify the men, as did the U.S.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 21, 2026

News of diGenova’s appointment comes on the heels of a prosecutor withdrawing from the case, apparently due to doubts she had about prosecuting former CIA director John O. Brennan.

From Salon • Apr. 21, 2026

The field marshal, acting on CIA intelligence, handed over the alleged mastermind behind the 2021 Kabul airport bombing when Americans were evacuating from Afghanistan.

From BBC • Apr. 10, 2026

In fact, they had been top secret operations planned by the CIA.

From "Most Dangerous: Daniel Ellsberg and the Secret History of the Vietnam War" by Steve Sheinkin