English Explanatory Dictionary

agency

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. The capacity, condition, or state of acting or of exerting power.
  2. The capacity of individuals to act independently and to make their own free choices.
  3. A medium through which power is exerted or an end is achieved.
  4. The office or function of an agent; also, the relationship between a principal and that person's agent.
  5. An establishment engaged in doing business for another; also, the place of business or the district of such an agency.
  6. A department or other administrative unit of a government; also, the office or headquarters of, or the district administered by, such unit of government.

Pronunciation

/ˈeɪ.d͡ʒən.si/ en-us-agency.ogg

Word forms

agency agencies

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂eǵ- Proto-Indo-European *-eti Proto-Indo-European *h₂éǵeti Proto-Italic *agō Latin agō Medieval Latin agēns Proto-Indo-European *-yós Proto-Italic *-ios Old Latin -ios Medieval Latin -ius Medieval Latin -ia Medieval Latin agēntiabor. English agency From Medieval Latin agentia, from Latin agēns (present participle of agere (“to act”)), agentis (cognate with French agence, see also agent).

Synonyms

action activity agency agent agentship cause device force function means operation power instrumentality management

Antonyms

nonagency

Related words

act action agent

Derived words

agencylike agencywide inter-agency
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