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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.

A senior official also told CBS that the CIA played a crucial in the rescue mission by tracking the airman in a mountain crevice and passing his exact location to the Pentagon.

From BBC • Apr. 5, 2026

The US intelligence agency the CIA helping to locate him and launched a "deception campaign" aimed at convincing Iranian authorities that he had already been found, the newspaper added.

From Barron's • Apr. 5, 2026

A senior administration official told The Times that Saturday’s mission began with a deception campaign launched by the CIA to throw off Iran’s military.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 5, 2026

The company’s early success came from its work with CIA and tactical military intelligence teams.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 4, 2026

With the full knowledge and support of the president, CIA planners and gadget-makers began devising plots to humiliate the Cuban leader.

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