secret agent

American  

noun

1. an agent of a secret service.

2. (loosely) a person employed to collect the military secrets of one country and relay them to another, especially a person living in a foreign country while so working for their own nation; spy.

---

secret agent British  

noun

1. a person employed in espionage

---

Etymology

Origin of secret agent

First recorded in 1830–40

Example Sentences

Over the next few decades, the secret agent opted for the security of running atop moving trains and hanging off the side of helicopters.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 8, 2026

Then in 1990 he got attention for his turn as the hard-nosed secret agent handling Anne Parillaud's female assassin Nikita, in Besson's hit film of the same name.

From Barron's • Oct. 31, 2025

During the meetings with the undercover FBI agent, Rocha began to divulge details about his time working as a secret agent for the Cuban government, the charging document alleged.

From BBC • Dec. 4, 2023

“Data loves James Bond,” says Quan, alluding to Moore’s tenure as the iconic secret agent from 1973 to 1985.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 27, 2023

At school, Twig’s always crawling around under desks, pretending to be a secret agent spy or something weird like that, but when her mother’s around, Twig turns into one of those embarrassed sitcom-type twelve-year-olds.

From "The Science of Breakable Things" by Tae Keller

Related Words

• informer
• intelligence agent
• operative
• spy
• undercover agent