intelligence agency

American  

noun

1. a government department charged with obtaining intelligence, or information, especially for use by the armed forces.

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Other Word Forms

• intelligence agent
  noun

Etymology

Origin of intelligence agency

First recorded in 1895–1900

Example Sentences

The reports said this was due to outdated target coordinates supplied by a US intelligence agency.

From BBC • Apr. 28, 2026

In November, Britain's domestic intelligence agency MI5 warned that China was using spies disguised as head-hunters to recruit parliamentarians, through LinkedIn among others.

From Barron's • Mar. 27, 2026

To help make the case on Iran, Graham traveled several times to Israel in recent weeks, meeting with members of the country’s intelligence agency.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 7, 2026

Last month, Lebanese authorities charged four people with kidnapping Ahmad Shukr -- whose brother Hassan is suspected of involvement in Arad's capture -- on behalf of Israel's Mossad intelligence agency.

From Barron's • Mar. 7, 2026

He then became a top advisor at the military’s new joint intelligence agency in 1949.

From "The Woman All Spies Fear" by Amy Butler Greenfield